The Dallas Wings are one of the worst teams in the entire WNBA.
However, at just 9-27, that hasn’t stopped rookie sensation Paige Bueckers from finding the good in such a tough year.
The first overall pick in this year’s draft is having a historic year despite the team’s struggles.
She acknowledged before their game against the Los Angeles Sparks some of the struggles and how she’s trying to stay above water.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Bueckers said. “There’s been a lot of challenges, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of learning. It’s been a process.
“I’m trying to attack every single day with the coaching staff. My teammates have done a great job of welcoming me and helping me feel confident in who I am. They’ve been a huge part of it.”
What did she do after she said this? Dropped a career-high 44 points on 17-21 from the field, tying the WNBA rookie record for points in a game.
She also became the first player in league history to score 40+ points while shooting 80% from the field.
Yet the Wings once again found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard, as Kelsey Plum hit a shot at the buzzer to win 81-80.
That’s been the story for Dallas this season. Heartbreak city.
While the wins haven’t been there for the Wings, just about everything else has gone Bueckers’ way.
She made the All-Star team in her first year as a professional. She eclipsed the 500-point mark in 27 games, making her the fastest rookie to do so in Dallas history.
Bueckers also owns the franchise record for assists by a rookie, and is hot on teammate Arike Ogunbowale’s tail, for the rookie scoring record. Ogunbowale scored 630 points in her rookie year in 2019, as Bueckers remains less than 100 points away with eight games left in the season.
She leads the Wings this year in points (18.8), assists (5.4), steals (1.7) and blocks (.5).
Her 18.8 points per game ranks eighth all-time in WNBA history for a rookie, while her assists total ranks 11th.
Despite all that, the Wings find themselves with the third worst record in the WNBA, trailing only the Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky.
The former UConn Husky and national champion revealed how she has handled the disappointing year, while trying not to get too down and keeping her peace.
“Honestly, just surround myself with the people I love,” Bueckers said.
“Whether it be friends, family or teammates. Just enjoy being present, getting off my phone, getting off social media and really just enjoying where I’m at.”
Bueckers has already established herself as one of the league’s most popular players. She came in with a lot of fanfare because of what she was able to do in Storrs, and her stardom has only grown since entering the WNBA.
And she hasn’t technically even stepped foot in Dallas, yet. The Wings currently play in Arlington, Texas at the College Park Center, home of the UT Arlington. That is located just outside of Dallas.
However, that is about to change, as the Wings have plans to move to downtown Dallas in 2027. Their future home will be the newly-renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium.
With Bueckers in town and Cooper Flagg joining the Dallas Mavericks, it’s a good time to be a basketball fan in Big D.
Who could say that six months ago as the city’s biggest star, Luka Doncic, was kicked to the curb and inexplicably traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the dead of night.
Well, basketball is coming back to Dallas. While the wins aren’t there yet, they will surely come with Bueckers leading the charge.
She is too special a talent, too special a player to not consistently contend for the postseason, year in and year out.
If she can navigate the storm through a tumultuous year like this one, then just wait until she has the Wings firing on all cylinders.
Not much can phase her. She’s just going to continue keeping the peace.