Paige Bueckers is setting the pace in multiple ways during her rookie season in the WNBA.
The Dallas Wings rookie guard may be standing apart from her peers, at least when you look at the stats — and numbers don’t lie.
While qualities like heart, grit, and resilience are hard to quantify, Bueckers’ performance data clearly speaks volumes. Even though Dallas is struggling as possibly the weakest team in the Western Conference, Bueckers’ individual numbers are making a strong impression.
As reported by the independent WNBA podcast “Pull Up 3,” Bueckers continues to dominate the rookie class despite her team’s overall shortcomings.
Though Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics leads all rookies with 44 made three-pointers, Bueckers holds firm control over two key statistical categories with just over a month remaining in the regular season.
Paige Bueckers Putting Possible Icing On ROTY
Bueckers accounts for roughly 29 percent (rounded from 28.5 percent) of the total rookies on the list, as illustrated below.
- PPG: Paige Bueckers
- RPG: Kiki Iriafen
- APG: Paige Bueckers
- SPG: Leila Lacan
- BPG: Saniya Rivers
- FG%: Dominique Malonga
- 3PM: Sonia Citron
Paige Bueckers is leading all WNBA rookies with averages of 18.5 points and 5.5 assists per game—numbers that could well put her in contention for Rookie of the Year honors.
Over the weekend, Bueckers shared with reporters that her persistent knee injury is starting to improve, though it’s still not fully healed. She previously expressed reluctance about playing in back-to-back games because of it.
“I’m fine, just a typical basketball knee-to-thigh issue,” Bueckers said on Friday after Dallas fell to Indiana. “It hurts during the game and probably will tomorrow, but you have to work through it. The game was very physical. We only started matching that intensity in the fourth quarter, so now we know we need to bring it for all four quarters.”
The Wings travel to New York on Tuesday to face the Liberty, aiming to snap a nearly two-week winless streak against the same team.
Despite the challenges, Bueckers’ story continues to develop and inspire.
