With just a few games left in the 2025 WNBA season, the Dallas Wings are mired in a rough stretch, suffering a 100-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream on August 27, marking their seventh straight defeat and a 2-13 record over their last 15 games. Their 9-31 record matches last season’s mark, which was the second-worst in the league behind the Los Angeles Sparks, earning them the No. 1 overall pick used to draft Paige Bueckers. Fresh off a national championship with UConn, where she lost only 13 of 126 games over four years, Bueckers is navigating uncharted territory with the Wings’ struggles.
Yet, her individual performance has been stellar: she dropped a season-high 44 points against the Sparks, tying Cynthia Cooper’s rookie record, and has scored double digits in 31 of 32 games. Ranking fifth in the WNBA with 18.9 points per game, seventh with 5.4 assists, and fifth with 1.6 steals, Bueckers is the only player in the top 10 across these categories, making her the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year despite competition from Washington’s Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
Bueckers Names the WNBA’s Greatest
Paige Bueckers recently shared her admiration for UConn legend Maya Moore, declaring her the WNBA’s GOAT. In an interview, Bueckers praised Moore’s relentless drive, saying, “It’s her competitive spirit and her will to win. She’s dominated at every level, and that translates everywhere she goes.” Bueckers also highlighted Moore’s off-court impact, noting, “She’s not just a great player but exceptional outside of basketball, which sets her apart.”
Moore, a four-time WNBA champion, 2014 MVP, and six-time All-Star in just eight seasons, left an indelible mark despite a shorter career. Bueckers, a product of UConn’s storied program under Geno Auriemma, aspires to emulate Moore’s legacy, blending on-court brilliance with meaningful influence beyond the game. It would be a remarkable feat for Paige Bueckers to one day draw comparisons to Maya Moore, despite their different positions, but her rookie season has already laid a strong foundation.
Bueckers’ Path to Greatness
Unlike her injury-plagued UConn years, Bueckers has stayed healthy, anchoring the Wings as their standout performer. With four games remaining-road matchups against the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, and Los Angeles Sparks, followed by a home finale against the Phoenix Mercury-she aims to end the season on a high note and avoid an 11-game losing streak.
A win could boost Dallas’ morale, but their 9-31 record might secure another No. 1 draft pick, a feat last achieved consecutively by the Indiana Fever in 2023 (Aliyah Boston) and 2024 (Caitlin Clark). Indiana’s rise as a contender, even without Clark for much of 2025, offers hope that Dallas can build around Bueckers for a brighter future. At 23, her career is just beginning, and her stellar debut suggests she’s on track for greatness.
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