Paige Bueckers’ arrival to the Dallas Wings was marked by a wave of euphoria. It all began with the viral moment when general manager Curt Miller celebrated like never before after winning the draft lottery to secure the No. 1 pick, just days after taking the job. Fans knew exactly what it meant: Bueckers was the most coveted prospect, following in the footsteps of Caitlin Clark as the league’s newest sensation.
The impact was immediate. Within days, the team sold out its season tickets and expanded its regional TV deal to reach 6.2 million households. Expectations were clear – Bueckers was supposed to be the key to transforming a franchise coming off a disappointing season. However, reality has been very different: an 8-22 record and growing pressure on her shoulders.
Bueckers doesn’t have a competitive team
CBS journalist Ashley Nicole Moss explained it on the We Need To Talk podcast: “There’s this belief that a rookie player can completely change a franchise, but that’s not realistic if you don’t have a roster capable of competing in the WNBA.”
This isn’t a new phenomenon. Even in the NBA, the No. 1 pick faces the same burden. Cooper Flagg is experiencing it with the Mavericks, just as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese did. The difference is that Clark arrived at a team with a solid structure, including Aliyah Boston, which allowed her to shine from the very start.
The Wings remain directionless in the WNBA
Despite being one of the league’s top players and earning one of the highest salaries in the WNBA ($1,474,065), Bueckers hasn’t had a competitive team around her. Dallas has a rookie head coach, Chris Koclanes, and recent moves – such as trading DiJonai Carrington – suggest more of a rebuild than a win-now approach.
Even in-season trades, like sending NaLyssa Smith to the Aces and acquiring Diamond Miller, haven’t shifted the outlook. According to Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints, the franchise considered signing a small forward or power forward, but the deal was “50/50,” reflecting internal doubts and the absence of an ideal piece on the market.
Dallas Wings: an uncertain future
Today, Bueckers remains a star with immense potential, but she can’t carry a broken project on her own. If the Wings don’t strengthen their roster and set a clear plan, the multimillion-dollar gamble could become yet another example of how pressure and a lack of structure can stall the rise of a generational talent in the WNBA.
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