Paige Bueckers Shows Grit and Growth as Wings Navigate a Rebuild

By all accounts, Paige Bueckers’ WNBA career is off to the kind of start you’d expect from a No. 1 overall pick—flashes of brilliance, moments of adjustment, and an unmistakable presence that suggests something special is taking root in Dallas. But as the rookie guard and her retooled Dallas Wings roster continue to search for their first win of the 2025 season, the results remain a work in progress.

The Wings fell to 0-3 after a narrow 85-81 loss to the undefeated Minnesota Lynx (3-0) on Wednesday night. Bueckers tallied her first professional double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, though her shooting woes continued, hitting just 3-of-11 from the field. In contrast, Arike Ogunbowale paced the Wings with 21 points, while Napheesa Collier dominated for the Lynx with 28 points and eight rebounds.

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A Roster in Transition

Dallas’s slow start isn’t entirely unexpected. The franchise entered the 2025 season with a dramatically reconfigured roster. After a disappointing 9-31 campaign last year, management went all-in on a rebuild around Ogunbowale. In addition to drafting Bueckers first overall, the team added versatile pieces in NaLyssa Smith, DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, and Myisha Hines-Allen. Chemistry was never going to emerge overnight.

And that’s exactly what we’re seeing—growing pains. The backcourt pairing of Bueckers and Ogunbowale, arguably one of the most tantalizing duos in the league from a talent standpoint, has yet to find its rhythm. Ogunbowale is a dynamic scorer with a shoot-first mentality, while Bueckers brings playmaking instincts and a pass-first approach. The potential is undeniable, but building synergy takes time.

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Signs of Stardom

What’s encouraging, however, is that Bueckers is already making her impact felt in other areas. Her second game against the Seattle Storm offered a glimpse of what she brings when confident and aggressive. Despite the Wings falling 79-71, Bueckers poured in 19 points, dished out eight assists, grabbed five rebounds, and added two steals in a well-rounded performance.

That game showcased something that coaches and fans alike will be eager to see more of: composure under pressure, the ability to bounce back from early mistakes, and the willingness to assert herself. After a quiet first outing against the Lynx, Bueckers came into the Storm matchup visibly more focused. She started hot, scoring seven points—including a deep three—in under a minute in the first quarter, setting an early tone for the Wings.

Yet the second quarter reminded everyone she’s still a rookie. Turnovers crept in, and she appeared briefly overwhelmed by the speed and spacing of the pro game. But Bueckers recalibrated after halftime. Her third-quarter effort—adding assists, rebounds, and steals—demonstrated her value as more than just a scorer. She’s a floor general in the making.

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The Balance Between Selflessness and Aggression

One of the most compelling aspects of Bueckers’ transition to the WNBA is the tension between her natural unselfishness and the need to assert herself offensively. Longtime UConn coach Geno Auriemma once commented, “She could try to go out there and get 25 shots every night if she wanted… but she doesn’t.” While that humility has been part of her charm, it may also be the biggest hurdle in her professional development.

The WNBA demands not just talent but presence—especially from its top picks. If Bueckers is to thrive, she must learn to balance her instincts to facilitate with a willingness to dominate. Her 19-point outing versus Seattle suggested she’s trending in the right direction.

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Building a Foundation for the Future

This Dallas Wings team is not built for overnight success. It's a young, evolving squad with the potential to blossom into a postseason contender, but the pieces are still clicking into place. What matters most in this phase of their rebuild isn’t perfection—it’s progress. And Bueckers, despite the record, is progressing rapidly.

Her back-to-back strong performances are reassurance that the hype was well-founded. As her confidence grows, so too will her control over the pace and structure of the game. Once her on-court partnership with Ogunbowale stabilizes and the rest of the rotation settles into their roles, Dallas may begin to fulfill the promise that now seems only just out of reach.

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A Glimpse at the Road Ahead

For now, the Wings will continue to battle through early adversity, but the signs are already there: Bueckers is not only adjusting—she’s evolving. And as she grows more comfortable with the professional game's speed and physicality, expect Dallas to become increasingly competitive.

In a league where team chemistry and leadership are as critical as raw talent, Paige Bueckers is learning both on the fly. Her path won’t be linear, but her potential remains sky-high. If she continues to balance assertiveness with her trademark vision, the Wings may not just find wins—they could find an identity.