Paige Bueckers is clearly on the path to WNBA stardom—it’s just a matter of when she fully arrives.
In just her second WNBA game, the Dallas Wings rookie delivered a standout performance against the Seattle Storm, leading her team with 19 points and handing out eight assists in front of a fired-up home crowd in Arlington.
She also contributed five rebounds and two steals, becoming the first rookie in Wings history to post those stats (19 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals) in a single game, per StatMuse.
Despite her impressive outing, the Wings couldn’t notch their first win of the season, falling 79-71 to the Storm. Nneka Ogwumike led the way for Seattle with 23 points and 19 rebounds, staving off a strong Dallas rally.
Still, it was a major step forward for Bueckers, who managed just 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in her debut.
There’s room for growth as she evolves from the 2025 No. 1 overall pick into the face of the franchise—but as the saying goes, greatness takes time.
Paige Bueckers provides glimpse of bright future with impressive performance in Wings’ loss to Storm
Paige Bueckers bounced back in a big way in her second WNBA outing, posting 19 points, eight assists, and five rebounds — a sharp contrast from her modest debut last week, when she admitted she had “room to grow.” On Monday, she showed just how quickly she can adapt.
Despite the Dallas Wings’ 79-71 loss to the Seattle Storm, Bueckers delivered a well-rounded performance, adding two steals and shooting 50% from the field (7-of-14). Her impact was evident — she played 37 minutes and ended with a +2 plus-minus in an eight-point loss.
She became the first Wings rookie since Arike Ogunbowale in 2019 to record at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game.
Seattle focused heavily on Bueckers defensively, throwing aggressive traps at her in pick-and-rolls. While it initially gave her trouble, she and the team adapted. Wings head coach Chris Koclanes began running sets to free her up, using off-ball movement and positioning her in areas where the Storm couldn’t easily double-team. As the game progressed, Bueckers responded with sharp reads and smart setups for her teammates.
“It’s smart to try and take the ball out of my hands,” Bueckers said postgame. “I’m learning to adjust — maybe using fewer ball screens, setting screens myself, creating openings for others, and pushing in transition. It’s a learning curve, but I’m figuring it out.”
Bueckers has long been touted as a generational talent thanks to her scoring range and elite passing ability, and those skills were on full display. Her court vision and unselfish play were key highlights.
Among those in attendance was Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who praised her during the broadcast: “It’ll take some time to adjust to the WNBA’s physicality, but she’s got the talent. You can already see her growth from Game 1 to Game 2. She’s going to be incredible for this team moving forward.”
If this is what Bueckers looks like while still settling into the league, her ceiling is sky-high. Though wins may be tough to come by this summer in Dallas, she gave fans a hopeful glimpse of what’s to come — and the future looks very promising.
