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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
When Paige\u00a0Bueckers<\/a> strolled into the Dallas Wings<\/a>‘ training camp after an offseason full of excursions, it was clear she\u2019d also made time for the weight room ahead of her sophomore year in the WNBA.<\/p>\n The guard, historically slight, gained 15 pounds of muscle on a regimen that included three-hour lifting sessions five to six days a week and a new diet.<\/p>\n She no longer looked like the fresh-faced rookie from the year prior, but someone built to take on the physicality of a league that she\u2019s already become a face of.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, a lot of times throughout college I was always rehabbing something in the summer,\u201d Bueckers told The Dallas Morning News. \u201cThis was my first long offseason where I really got to hone in.\u201d<\/p>\n Added time in the gym has seemingly paid off for Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year. She\u2019s averaging 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the new-look Wings, who finished 10\u201334 overall in 2025 and are currently 11\u20138 near the midpoint of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Paige Bueckers playing better than ever this year, moving up WNBA record books<\/a><\/p>\n The 24-year-old ranks top 10 in the league in points and assists, and recently achieved 1,000 career points<\/a>. Bueckers became the fourth-fastest player in history to reach 1,000 points and the fastest to reach 1,000 points and 250 assists, but these feats can\u2019t all be attributed to work in the gym.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Though physically more built, Bueckers has also strengthened her mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in the power of positive thinking. I\u2019m probably delusionally positive,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cSituations could be 99 percent negative and I\u2019ll try to find that 1 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n That mindset has made Bueckers a beloved teammate. It\u2019s also helped her navigate the weight of responsibility and the pressure of being in the public eye. She\u2019s one of the most prominent figures in women\u2019s basketball, with a large sponsorship portfolio and an army of fans to show for it, but it took Bueckers time to grow into the leader she is today.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers opens up about challenges of being in the public eye<\/a><\/p>\n And she\u2019s still learning how to fight against the perfectionism that comes with that role. Time in the gym made her even more elite on the court, but life in the spotlight has taught Bueckers being a leader doesn\u2019t negate her own humanity.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cRole models don\u2019t have to be perfect. You can make mistakes. You can come up short in life,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cI believe in God\u2019s grace. I believe in forgiving. I believe in responding to mistakes and letting them help you become a better human being.\u201d<\/p>\n Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (left) huddles with teammates including guard Azzi Fudd (35) and forward Jessica Shepard (32) before during a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center on Monday, June 15, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Humble teammate, leader<\/p>\n A big sister to three siblings, Bueckers has long been a connector.<\/p>\n \u201cI was always loud, goofy, building relationships, having a good time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n That warmth is part of what\u2019s made Bueckers a household name in the sport, though she often deflects the spotlight away from herself and on to her teammates.<\/p>\n While she can take over a game, she has more of a pass-first mindset. When Bueckers has a great performance, she\u2019ll credit a teammate for creating space. You won\u2019t see her placing blame on anyone.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Wings’ Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard crack top 10 in WNBA All-Star fan vote<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI ride for my teammates. Good, bad, ugly, win, loss, whatever,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cEverybody\u2019s important. No person\u2019s bigger than the other.\u201d<\/p>\n During her time at UConn, where she became one of the top NIL earners in women\u2019s college sports, she often included her teammates in NIL deals and used her influence to create pathways for minority content creators and advertisers.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Bueckers also left additional money on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the beginning of that NIL thing, I remember saying to her \u2026 \u2018Alright, listen, we’re going to sit down and talk about how much money we\u2019re going to give you,\u2019\u201d longtime UConn women\u2019s basketball coach Geno Auriemma<\/a> said during a recent media availability. \u201cAnd she\u2019s like, \u2018I don\u2019t want it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n When Auriemma pushed her on it, Bueckers\u2019 answer remained the same.<\/p>\n \u201cShe said, \u2018No, give it to some of these other guys because they need it,\u2019\u201d Auriemma said. \u201cShe was making so much money off the court with all the deals that she had.\u201d<\/p>\n And she spread the wealth. Auriemma noted how whenever Bueckers signed a new deal, she\u2019d give out goodies, like Crocs or Bose headphones, to UConn players and staff.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers ushering in star-studded era for Dallas Wings and WNBA<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAbove and beyond the assists on the court, how she is as a human being off the court allows her to then inspire them to follow [her]. She didn\u2019t want to do that as a young player, freshman year, sophomore year. Even junior year sometimes. She just expected it to happen,\u201d Auriemma said. \u201cBut I think since then, she\u2019s taken on that [mindset of] I\u2019m responsible for not just myself, but for the rest of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Bueckers credits the 12-time champion coach, along with high school coaches and veteran players, for much of her growth in that area.<\/p>\n \u201cHolding people accountable and calling people out is really just calling people up,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cIt\u2019s really a respect thing. If you think your teammate is capable of better and you think we can be better as a team \u2014 that\u2019s what leadership is.\u201d<\/p>\n Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (center) dances with guard Aziaha James as the team take the court for the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n A heavy crown<\/p>\n In a tight 93-92 win over the Chicago Sky<\/a> earlier this month, Bueckers struggled to find her shot early. But she fought through the slump, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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