The Dallas Wings are a team in search of an identity, and right now, that identity is losing. They’re in a five-game tailspin, sitting at 8-24, and have developed a baffling inability to make layups. Yet, somehow, in the middle of all that chaos, their rookie superstar Paige Bueckers is putting on a historic show. She is the calm in the storm, the one bright light in a season that has gone dark, single-handedly rewriting the record books while her team just tries to stay afloat.
The team’s issues are fundamental. Head coach Chris Koclanes has had to publicly address their “alarming layup struggles,” a problem almost unheard of at the professional level. “You demand it of them,” Koclanes said, clearly frustrated. “At the end of the day, we’re pros and we’ve gotta go finish around the rim.” Teammate Haley Jones speculated that the players might be rushing things, but the result is the same: missed opportunities and demoralizing losses.
Their latest 91-78 loss to the Washington Mystics was the whole season in a nutshell: Bueckers was brilliant with 17 points, extending a historic scoring streak, while the team around her simply couldn’t keep up. For most rookies, that kind of constant struggle would be crushing. But Bueckers has a way of looking at the grind that few athletes do.
“You can appreciate the success because you’ve appreciated the failures,” she explained in a recent iHeartRadio interview, offering a glimpse into the mindset that allows her to endure. “You can’t skip a step… it’s just a beautiful, a beautiful way of life to just appreciate everything that gets thrown your way.”
It’s a beautiful philosophy, but it’s being tested. While the Wings are mired in failure, Paige Bueckers is achieving staggering success. She’s the runaway Rookie of the Year, the fastest rookie in league history to rack up 450 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, and the only player in the WNBA to score in double figures every single game. And even the most patient rookie has her limits.
After the latest loss, her philosophical tone was gone, replaced by the raw frustration of a competitor who is tired of talking. “I mean, there’s only so much we can talk about,” she said bluntly. “We’ve had these conversations almost after every game. So, right now it’s all about action.” That demand for action, however, doesn’t mean she’s leaving her teammates behind; in fact, it’s where her leadership becomes most clear.
Paige Bueckers balances frustration with unwavering support for teammates
This is the tightrope Paige Bueckers now walks. As her frustration with the losses boils over, she has somehow managed to be both the demanding leader her team needs and the supportive teammate they can lean on. It’s a balancing act that shows a maturity far beyond her years, proving she can be both the team’s toughest critic and its biggest cheerleader.
You could see it perfectly after the Mystics game. In the same press conference where she declared it was time for “action,” she went out of her way to praise teammate Grace Berger. “She just plays with the effort that you really can’t teach,” Bueckers said. “She just makes a positive impact on the basketball game, regardless of made or missed shots.” It was a powerful move from a superstar, using her spotlight to validate a teammate’s hard work, showing that she values the grind even when the results aren’t there.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates during the second half against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
That leadership is creating a bond that might just be the foundation for the team’s future. “Young players like JJ, Paige, Aziaha… to be able to be their teammate… I’m just excited about it,” Berger herself has said. It’s that excitement and mutual respect that Bueckers is trying to protect.
So while she still holds on to the idea of appreciating the journey, her patience for losing is clearly running out. The demand for action isn’t just frustration; it’s the next step in her evolution as a leader. The time for appreciating failure is over. For Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, the time to win is now.
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