Paige Bueckers may be new to the WNBA, but she’s acting like she’s been here for years, dropping 18.2 points and nearly 6 assists a game while shooting a pretty 46.3% from the field. Her three-point shot is still in warm-up mode, but her mid-range game? That’s already royal territory. The Wings even crowned her “Middy Princess,” and honestly, it fits. So, defenders might as well bow when she pulls up. She’s already outpacing stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese in All-Star votes, proving she’s not just living up to the hype, she’s lapping it. Especially since returning from concussion protocol, the Wings’ rookie guard has been on an absolute tear! But as the strong performances keep rolling in, so does a familiar concern!
Her health has practically become a team-wide priority, and honestly, who could blame them? Everyone remembers the injuries she dealt with in college that pushed back her long-awaited WNBA debut. This year, when she entered concussion protocol and then dealt with another illness, the Wings didn’t hesitate while hitting pause. No rushing her back, no hero ball, just rest and caution. But Bueckers? She casually mentioned having a headache. That’s it. Coach Chris Koclanes wasn’t having any of it, though: “That was the first of it, and once that was said, she went right to the doctor to make sure we’re not missing anything.” The team cited travel fatigue as a concern, which, let’s be honest, is fair. Those cross-country flights can knock out the best of us, never mind someone recovering from a head injury.
So, while she continues her good performances, the Dallas Wings still sit at 3-12, making them the second-worst team in the league. And naturally, a question mark appears around Bueckers and her health because the major chunk of responsibility falls on her shoulders. This is the same player with the kind of injury history no athlete wants in their career. Back in December 2021, Paige suffered a tibial plateau fracture along with a lateral meniscus tear in her left knee, which saw her play only 17 games during her sophomore season. Just when things seemed to be turning around, she tore her ACL in the same knee in August 2022, sidelining her for her entire junior season.
Coach Koclanes addressed the topic in his pregame press conference ahead of the clash with the Atlanta Dream. He said, “Absolutely, I am constantly talking to our training staff and, you know, I don’t want to play her 40 minutes and we have 9 available players. We want to win games and she’s the ultimate competitor and doesn’t want to be on the bench.”
I asked Chris Koclanes about “load management” for Paige Bueckers.
He said in an ideal world, she wouldn’t be playing as many minutes as she is, but she’s also the ultimate competitor and doesn’t want to be on the bench. #wnba #wingsup #paigebueckers pic.twitter.com/qePV3GEk0z
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) June 24, 2025
This message from Koclanes comes as Bueckers shattered a 28-year record against the Dream, held by the legendary Cynthia Cooper and Andrea Stinson. She became the fastest player ever to hit 200 points and 50 assists, doing it in just 11 games. For context, Caitlin Clark had matched the original record by reaching the milestone in 12 games during her rookie season as well. That right there tells you just how special Paige really is!
So, it’s not ideal that Bueckers is averaging 35.8 minutes per game this season, given her injury record. It probably cannot be helped, though, for the time being at least. One of the biggest reasons behind Dallas’ struggles this season? Injuries and absences. With Maddy Siegrist, Tyasha Harris, and DiJonai Carrington out injured and Teaira McCowan, Luisa Geiselsoder away on national duty, the Wings have been hit hard. They weren’t prepared for such a situation, and frankly, no team ever is! They are down to just 9 players, and it’s far from ideal.
But as long as Paige stays healthy and keeps playing, you can fully expect her to keep rewriting the record books. Against the Mystics, she didn’t stop at one record; she broke several. Let’s take a look at the other records she broke.
Paige Bueckers continues to script history!
Watching Caitlin Clark break record after record last season was truly something special. No one thought anyone could replicate that kind of impact. But here we are, just a year later, and Paige Bueckers is breaking records for fun!
May 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Bueckers broke multiple records against the Mystics. She became the fastest player since 2006 to score 200 points. She also became the fastest player to reach 20 career steals since 2012. And it didn’t stop there. She became the 2nd fastest guard in WNBA history to reach 10 career blocks!
For sure, Bueckers is probably playing more than her body can handle right now, but that’s just who she is. A competitor who wants to play every game and win. She showed that same mentality at UConn, playing 39 and 38 games in her final two seasons with the Huskies. The Dallas Wings need her more than ever right now, given their dire situation with injuries. But even with Bueckers putting up big numbers, can the Wings actually start winning games? That remains to be seen!
The post ‘I Don’t Want to Play Her’: Wings Coach Candid About Paige Bueckers After She Beats Caitlin Clark Record appeared first on EssentiallySports.