Dallas sports are in the middle of one of their roughest stretches in years. While there have been glimmers of hope — the Mavericks drafting Duke’s Cooper Flagg at No. 1 and the Wings landing UConn standout Paige Bueckers with the top pick — both teams remain far from being considered contenders.
The city’s sports landscape took another blow just over a week before the Cowboys’ season opener, when star linebacker Micah Parsons was dealt to the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster move that could reshape the NFL season. With Parsons gone, Dallas suddenly finds itself short on young stars to rally behind. That leaves Bueckers, who will head into her sophomore campaign next spring, as perhaps the brightest figure left to carry the city’s sports identity.
Paige Bueckers’ Stardom Hinted By ESPN
As NFL Live wrapped up its week-ending segment on Friday, the panel couldn’t resist highlighting the turbulence Dallas sports fans have faced recently. While acknowledging the frustrations, Mina Kimes suggested it comes with the territory, which opened the door for her colleague Phill Murphy to pose a pressing question about Paige Bueckers’ future.
“Mina, do you think there’s any chance we see Paige Bueckers moved in some sort of blockbuster deal away from the Wings?” Murphy asked.
Kimes didn’t directly respond to the mention of Bueckers, but she stuck to a familiar theme.
“I feel for Dallas fans,” Kimes said. “But the reality is, the Cowboys aren’t the Mavericks. Cooper Flagg isn’t walking through that door in Dallas. They’re not getting that kind of lifeline with a No. 1 pick.”
For now, Bueckers remains committed to reshaping the Wings into a contender. Her presence hasn’t just lifted her own profile but has inspired her teammates and even drawn praise from other WNBA stars who have taken note of her rapid development during her rookie season.
Paige Bueckers Sees Potential In Dallas Wings
“The people we have here and the belief in what we’re building,” Bueckers told reporters Friday. “I just have this unwavering faith. If we keep doing things the right way and trust each other, the results will come.”
With only about a month left in the regular season and the playoffs already out of reach, there’s little time for the Wings to make significant strides this year. The bigger question is whether Dallas can orchestrate a true turnaround with Bueckers leading the way in the coming seasons. For now, her potential to be that cornerstone has never felt more compelling.
