The Dallas Wings may be off to a rocky start in the 2025 WNBA season, but rookie guard Paige Bueckers is beginning to show why she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
In her third game as a professional, Bueckers recorded her first WNBA double-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 assists, and three steals in an 85-81 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
The achievement came on familiar ground for Bueckers, who grew up in the Minneapolis area and was welcomed back warmly by the home crowd.
The WNBA acknowledged her performance on social media, writing: “With this assist, Paige Bueckers officially recorded the first double-double of her WNBA career! No better place to do it than at home.”
While Bueckers struggled from the field, shooting just 3-of-11, her all-around contributions highlighted her value to a Wings team desperate for a franchise cornerstone.
Dallas has posted just one winning season in the last nine years and is still seeking its first victory in 2025, now sitting at 0-3.
From college dominance to pro promise
Before arriving in Dallas, Bueckers became a household name at UConn, where she dazzled fans and scouts alike with her scoring efficiency and floor vision. Over four collegiate seasons, she averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting an impressive 53.1% from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc.
Her final year at UConn was a standout. She not only helped the Huskies capture the 2024-25 NCAA women’s championship, but also earned the Wade Trophy and was named Big East Player of the Year. Her game-marked by a sharp mid-range jumper and an elite feel for the pick-and-roll-has led many to predict a superstar trajectory.
Now in Dallas, Bueckers has been tasked with helping turn around a franchise that finished 9-31 last season.
Despite her youth, the early signs suggest she’s up to the challenge. Her court awareness and ability to create scoring opportunities are already showing through, even as she adapts to the speed and physicality of the WNBA.
The Wings are counting on Bueckers to be more than just a promising rookie-they need her to be the foundation of their rebuild.
If her early flashes are any indication, she might be ready to take on that role sooner than expected.
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