The Dallas Wings have sadly played exactly the way they were expected to. The team is off to the worst start in franchise history with a 1–11 record. As many expected, Paige Bueckers is still shining despite being on a substandard roster. Arike Ogunbowale has been inconsistent, and the defense has been nothing short of poor.

With a new head coach in Chris Koclanes, almost everyone saw this coming. The team looks disconnected and has been crumbling in crucial moments, like they did against the Las Vegas Aces. Paige has carried this offense, either via her scoring or via her creativity, in every game she has played.  While in the short term, it does not look good for Bueckers and Co. The franchise is playing the long-term game with her. And Arike Ogunbowale expressed what makes Bueckers different to succeed in the coming years in the W.  

Ogunbowale was asked by Sue Bird on her podcast Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird before their loss to the Aces what quality Bueckers has to succeed in the long term in the WNBA She replied, “The midi, like, she got the midi perfected. Like it’s so clean too, it’s just like “Oh you want to run out, I got the midi like I’m not about to try to Euro step and get to the basket like I’m just going to stop here and pop the midi.” And like that’s so hard to guard. So I think like her having that and obviously cuz she can shoot from far, but her having that midi is definitely huge for sure.”

Paige Bueckers is already turning heads as one of the most dynamic and versatile scorers in the league. She’s got the range, hitting threes at a smooth 41.7 percent, but she’s not forcing it. Only putting up three attempts per game, she’s showing patience and control. Back at UConn, she let it fly more often with 4.5 attempts per game at 42.3%, and it’s only a matter of time before she ramps that up in the pros. Right now, she’s picking her spots. Bueckers loves to drive into the lane, drawing in the defense and dishing it out to shotmakers like Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington. But that’s just the setup. The real magic? Her midrange game.

This is where Bueckers separates herself from the pack. A whopping 30.2 percent of her points come from the midrange, the third-highest mark in the entire league. Only Courtney Williams and Robyn Parks rely on it more. That number isn’t just impressive, it’s rare. In a league where most players are barreling to the rim or launching from deep, Bueckers is out here cooking from the elbow like it’s 2005.

She’s not bullying people in the paint just yet. Physically, she’s still finding her footing. But mentally, she’s already three steps ahead. Her IQ is off the charts. While defenders are trying to recover from the drive or expecting a kick-out, Paige is calmly stopping on a dime and hitting that smooth jumper. No wasted motion. No hesitation. She’s pulling defenders out of their comfort zones, making them chase her into unfamiliar territory. And by the time they adjust, the shot is already through the net and Bueckers is halfway back on defense. 

The scary part is that she can improve further, and Arike has the perfect advice for the rookie. She said, “Just like be more aggressive, cuz here it’s like you need to score, like you need to score, like and you’re a scorer. I know, like, she has that you know mindset, but I think you people saw, like, especially in that run, like she started going crazy. Like she was looking like she was looking really good, so it’s just like be you know be aggressive like score like and nobody will ever get mad you doing this, taking shots, cuz it’s like that’s what we need from you, truly.”

Paige has made it clear since the beginning. Her priority is to elevate her teammates. Whether it’s through smart passing, unselfish play, or leadership by example, she has consistently shown a team-first mindset. It’s the kind of attitude every coach dreams of, especially from a number one overall pick. But as noble as that approach is, it doesn’t always align with the realities of the game.

Bueckers is a natural facilitator, but not everyone around her is ready to match her rhythm. And when she is locked in, there might not be a more efficient scorer in the league. Her 35-point performance against the Phoenix Mercury proved that. She shot an incredible 13-of-19 from the field, showing total command of the game. On any night with decent defense and even average support, that kind of performance is enough to secure a win.

Instead, the rest of the Dallas Wings shot just 33 percent from the field, going 16-of-48. That highlights a bigger issue. The unwritten rule in basketball is simple: feed the hot hand. In this case, Bueckers was the hot hand, but she was also the one distributing the ball. Her instinct to involve others is admirable, but in games like that, it may be hurting her team’s chances. 

Everyone saw how the Indiana Fever was getting Caitlin Clark the ball in the first two quarters when she was on fire. Clark ended up getting almost half the points of the team in the first half. That changed in the second half as Kelsey Mitchell came into her own, and then the team started feeding her more. Clark attempted 13 of her 20 shots in the first half while Mitchell had 21 of 22 points in the second half. Paige can take some learning from Clark and learn how to manage the game as it evolves in real time. 

There comes a time when that balance between sharing the ball and taking over has to shift. Not forever, not out of ego, but because the moment demands it. When Bueckers is in full flow, she can dominate any defense. And sometimes, the best way to bring your team up is to carry them forward.

UConn star Azzi Fudd’s parents point key difference between Bueckers and Clark

The comparisons between Dallas Wings star rookie Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever icon Caitlin Clark aren’t just inevitable, they’re deserved. Both are generational talents. Both entered the league with massive expectations. And both, despite taking different paths, have dominated every level of basketball they’ve played.

They rose through college basketball as headline-makers. And now, they’re at the center of the WNBA’s next wave. Whether it’s through scoring bursts, highlight plays, or their growing influence on their teams’ identities, Bueckers and Clark are shaping the league’s future in real time. But if you ask the people who know Bueckers best-Azzi Fudd’s the constant comparison misses the point entirely.

On the NOVA Legends podcast, Katie Smrcka-Duffy and Tim Fudd laid it out clearly. “[Paige] does have a competitive fire,” said Tim. “Caitlin shows hers a lot in those big moments… [Paige] has that fire in her belly, and we’ve just yet to see it [with the Wings].” The contrast was summed up in one bold declaration: “It’s Michael Jordan and LeBron James.”

Caitlin Clark is virtually famous for her outbursts on the court. Whether it’s towards players or the referees. Just in the first game of the season, she committed a flagrant on Angel Reese, her arch rival. While it was a basketball play, it further highlighted that she will do anything to make her team win. Clark had 6 technical fouls last year, and now she already has one. Even when she was injured, she was cheering every play and has always been aggressive ever since her Iowa days.

On the other hand, Bueckers is more calculated like Lebron and picks her moments. While she does not show aggression, she expresses herself with her game. You try to trash-talk her, and she will score on you throughout the game.  She is willing to take a back seat for the team to succeed and not be as vocal as Clark. Just yesterday in the game against the Liberty, Clark was seen a little frustrated when Natasha Howard did not pass the ball to her while she was struggling and forced the shot. While she did make it, Clark was feeling it in the first half and wanted to get as many off as possible. 

There’s no single “right” way to approach the game. Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark simply reflect two different philosophies. Clark plays with fiery emotion and visible swagger. Bueckers is more composed and calculated. Both are true competitors, and they just show it in their own way.

In the NBA, players like Jordan were celebrated for their intense, almost obsessive drive to be perfect. Ego and arrogance weren’t frowned upon; they were fuel for greatness. Clark channels that energy in her way and is not as intense as Jordan was. Bueckers, meanwhile, leans into selflessness, poise, and precision. 

The most important part is this: both Bueckers and Clark have the tools to become legends. They’ve already shown flashes, both on and off the court, of what it means to carry the league forward. Their teams may be on different trajectories right now, but don’t expect that to last. With their talent, vision, and leadership, both are bound to be contending at the very top of the WNBA sooner rather than later.