“You’re getting the best defender every game, double-teamed on every pick and roll, face guarded, top-lined, that’s respect from the other team. It’s like anything. It’s the next level, and it takes time.” That’s what Diana Taurasi said about Caitlin Clark when she was drafted as the number 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. And she wasn’t wrong. The Rookie of the Year kicked off her W career with a tough 1–8 start. It was clear that the Iowa legend needed some time to adjust to the league’s physicality. Now, with the 2025 WNBA Draft behind us, the same challenge awaits this year’s number 1 pick, Paige Bueckers.

Paige Bueckers’ role will be shaped by first-year head coach Koclanes and his staff as they look to maximize the potential of a revamped Wings roster, one that features one of the league’s top scorers, Arike Ogunbowale, who has averaged 20.6 points per game in her career. But the big question remains. Will the physicality of the W slow her down early on?

Lucy Rhoden of the Good Follow podcast seems to agree. She said, “I think that it’s obviously going to take some time to adjust for Paige—for every rookie in the league.” Those were on full display when the Dallas Wings took on the Las Vegas Aces. Bueckers logged 23 minutes but managed just 10 points, and on top of that, her +/- was -23. It was clear that she struggled during the game to an extent. But she showed signs of what a baller she really is!

But there’s still a lot to like about the Wings. Despite the 112–78 loss to the Aces, Dallas had some clear bright spots. Their rookies, in particular, made a strong impression. JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James combined for an impressive 26 points, with Quinerly leading the team in scoring despite limited minutes. Led by Paige Bueckers herself, this rookie class could very well become the main storyline for Dallas moving forward. It’ll be interesting to see how Paige handles the pressure of being the number 1 pick and just how physical opposing defenses get with her.

And Paige had some interesting thoughts to share about her expectations for the upcoming WNBA season. Let’s take a look at what she had to say.

Paige Bueckers is adjusting to expectations ahead of her rookie season

Paige Bueckers wrapped up her career at UConn as a national champion, having only lost three games in the 2024-25 season. Now, as she joins the Dallas Wings in the WNBA, she’s fully aware that the expectations on her will need to shift as she embarks on her rookie year. She knows that she won’t win every game in the W.

“I think I’ve come to that realization that I’ve been extremely blessed and fortunate to be in great situations in high school and in college,” Bueckers said during Wings media day. “It’s different in the W. You don’t see teams going undefeated, you don’t see a lot of single-loss seasons, which is something that the teams I’ve been playing on have not been accustomed to, so it’s definitely going to be an adjustment.”

Bueckers is coming to the Wings from a program with the most unbeaten seasons in college history, so transitioning to the WNBA will undoubtedly be a different experience. She knows it won’t be the same, but what she can control is her performance. Will she face struggles like Caitlin Clark did at the start of her career, or will she hit the ground running? Guess we’ll have to wait and see!