Paige Bueckers' Blunt Response to Immediate Problem in WNBA Rookie Season
Rookie guard Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds, improving markedly on her debut line of 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists in a season-opening loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
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Yet, the Wings shot a woeful 4-for-19 from three and were repeatedly burned by Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike, who combined for 61 points.
After the final buzzer, a reporter noted that defenses have been sending double teams at Bueckers "on nearly every possession" and asked how she planned to respond.
"I mean it's probably smart just to get the ball out of my hands, and just trying to... adjust offensively on how to counteract a trap... and maybe less ball screens and screening," Bueckers said. "But it's just something a different look that defenses are throwing at me, which is an adjustment. And so just continue to learn and work through that."
Bueckers concluded a decorated five-year career at UConn this spring as the nation's premier college player.
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She led the Huskies to the 2025 NCAA title, earning all of the sport's top honors in her senior year: the Honda Sports Award, Wade Trophy, and AP Player of the Year, among others.
A three-time unanimous first-team All-American (2021, 2024, 2025) and two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner, Bueckers posted a career scoring average of 19.9 points per game, the highest in UConn history.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5).Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Wings selected her with the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft in April.
At 0-2, they now face a true test of resilience when Bueckers returns to Minnesota on Wednesday for her 'homecoming' versus the Lynx.
Related: Former WNBA Champion Involved in Caitlin Clark Incident Gets Released
Related: Indiana Fever Turn Heads with Roster Announcement on Thursday
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