If anything, this past WNBA season was a good learning experience for the Dallas Wings.
Though the Wings desperately need the No. 1 Pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers wants to run her own race for now.
After she wrapped up her rookie season in September with a dismal 10-34 record for the team, the star point guard has more reasons to ask for a bit of control over her journey.
Paige Bueckers Wants To Run Her Own Race
While the Wings couldn’t fulfill their fans’ expectations, the No. 1 overall pick still managed to win Rookie of the Year honors while averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds over 36 starts.
Now in the offseason, she’s pushing back against the noise around her team’s struggles. Bueckers recently sat down with USA Network’s Traci Lee this month and laid it out plain.
“It’s been a learning process of learning how to stop caring about other people’s opinions of you. Don’t look to the left, don’t look to the right. Run your own race and just be super driven, super purpose-filled, and be super present-minded,” Bueckers told USA Network’s Traci Lee.
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Paige Bueckers was the only player in the league that was top 10 in points, assists and steals this season!
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However, the 23-year-old guard was reflecting on her first pro year, where she shone individually but watched Dallas drop 34 games.
The Wings’ season ended with 10 consecutive losses before a final win over Phoenix, leaving them out of the playoffs. Bueckers led all rookies in scoring and assists, posting 692 points and 194 dimes, the third- and fourth-most ever for a first-year player.
Paige Bueckers Needs More Recognition
Bueckers’ rookie run earned her All-WNBA Second Team honors and a starting spot in the All-Star Game, but off-court mix-ups show she’s still building that everyday face-of-the-league status.
Recently, Bueckers shared one such story on Diana Taurasi’s Whistle Sports YouTube show, recounting a fan encounter in Washington during her offseason travels.
The fan spotted her and yelled, “Oh my gosh, are you Sophie Cunningham?” referring to the Indiana Fever guard known for her blonde hair and energetic style.
Bueckers laughed it off, saying the well-meaning mistake caught her by surprise but didn’t sting. It happened after she wrapped a season where she drew whistles at a 28.6% free-throw rate, ninth on the Wings, proving her game runs on skill over calls.
The confusion stems from an earlier moment when Cunningham, on her podcast, criticized referees for what she perceived as favoritism toward Bueckers in a game.