Paige Bueckers’ first WNBA game, albeit preseason, did not go the way she would’ve liked. A 34-point beatdown at the hands of the Aces would provide for a welcome to Paige and hand out a lesson without any real harm done. She had expectations to meet, physicality to wade off, and a different pace to adjust to. She has expressed excitement in embracing the new routines, but you know the grimness sets in after the bumpy ride and the pressure that awaits. A news from her alma mater, however, wouldn’t let that last long.
Bueckers has been announced as the 2025 Honda Sport Award winner for women’s basketball by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. This marks the 13th time a UConn player has won the award in women’s basketball. Continuing on her habit of ending UConn droughts, she also became the first to win it for UConn since Breanna Stewart did it for the third time in 2016. Further, the rookie is now a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2025 Honda Cup. Talk about cementing a legacy.
But for Paige, who seldom cares for individual achievements, there is something else elevating her image with the Wings. It is coming from the head coach Chris Koclanees himself.
When Koclanes was asked about Paige’s ability to command the pick and roll and open up their offense, he displayed excitement about her potential. “Totally. The game is slow for her,” he said. “Usually there’s a transition period, and there will be at times, to where you know you have to just continue to work at it and work at it and eventually it slows down, but the pace at which she plays already is just different, so we’re excited to have that on our side.” While there is no denying Paige is one of one, the comparison brings about a sense of nostalgia for the Dallas fans.
Now a Laker, Luka Doncic once impressed the city with his ability to slow down the game, too. Although it has been applauded as a strategic approach, there’s still criticism across the league, tagging it ‘unathletic’. However, the traditional understanding of athleticism might hurt Paige the same as Luka if the narrative goes against her. Highlighting the importance of the ability to decelerate as part of athleticism, Eric Leidersdorf from P3 explained, “Luka combines impressive deceleration ability with unique lateral movement efficiency; his force time curve suggests that he’s capable of NBA-level acceleration in the lateral plane.”
So as her slow play would likely bring around comparisons to the 5-time All star, they are sure to help the Rookie’s confidence. Something that would be vital if the Wings would like to have a strong showing this year.
Paige’s leadership could be the difference in Dallas
As part of a young Dallas Wings squad that looks to rebuild successfully, Paige knew her leadership would be key moving forward. Setting the tone from the jump, she was seen being vocal and competing at training camp. “I’m trying to come in and earn everybody’s respect through passion, heart, communication, and building that chemistry on and off the court,” Bueckers said. “Just connecting with everybody.” While the loss at the hands of the Aces will bruise the Wings’ preseason, Paige’s calm reaction would be a relief for the coach and teammates alike.
“It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks ago to where I am today,” Bueckers said. “I’m just soaking it up and enjoying every moment, getting used to new routines, traditions, new teammates, and new organization. I’m just excited to be playing basketball again with this new group and continue to grow and get better every day.” Displaying her desire to be in Dallas would be huge for the morale of the team and provide the GM a sense of stability. That would also be crucial in attracting stars to their franchise in the future.
For now, Dallas must recover quickly. Playing in only one preseason game, they will not have the opportunity to gain their confidence back through a win. Paige, who has displayed resilience throughout her career, will once again need to be a rock for her side as they prepare for a grueling season. If they seek to elevate their play this season, the Wings will need to work.
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