Paige Bueckers is proving she’s not just a rising star – she’s also a force changing the face of the WNBA. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft has hit the ground running with the Dallas Wings, and her impact has been felt across the league.
Averaging 18.2 points and 5.5 assists per game, Bueckers recently earned the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Month award, recognizing her as the standout performer among first-year players.
Not long after, she made her debut in the WNBA All-Star Game, an honor rarely given to rookies. There, she set the tone by becoming the first rookie to hit a four-point shot in All-Star history and tallied the most assists without a turnover by any rookie in the showcase. That milestone alone put her in the spotlight, but Bueckers was far from done making history.
Breaking records, demanding better
In a recent matchup against the expansion Golden State Valkyries, Bueckers dropped 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Despite her performance, the Wings lost 86-76. Yet even in defeat, she made headlines again by becoming the first WNBA player to tally 350 points and 100 assists within her first 20 games, surpassing Caitlin Clark’s previous mark.
Postgame, Bueckers didn’t shy away from accountability. “Free throws, layups, and then the rebounding battle,” she said when asked about what went wrong. “All things we can control and fix.” Her honest assessment was both a critique and a quiet challenge to the locker room to sharpen their fundamentals.
Coach Chris Koclanes echoed that sentiment but pointed to another issue: defensive mismatches due to lineup switches. Smaller guards being tasked with boxing out stronger players led to a rebounding gap that cost the Wings critical possessions.
While Bueckers emphasized execution, Koclanes acknowledged tactical missteps that left the team vulnerable under the rim.
Despite the loss, Bueckers struck an optimistic tone. “We’re staying together through all the runs of a season,” she said. “Our progression is coming, and we feel like we can compete in every game.”
Meanwhile, Bueckers is expanding her presence beyond basketball. She recently made a surprise cameo in the upcoming Naked Gun reboot, appearing in a playful exchange with Liam Neeson’s character. Her nine-second appearance, while brief, has generated buzz ahead of the film’s August 1, 2025 release.
As her rookie season unfolds, Bueckers continues to shine both on and off the court by breaking records, pushing her team forward, and stepping confidently into the national spotlight.
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