A tycoon took over the city of Dallas, and her name? Paige Bueckers. When the UConn alum made her way to the Wings, fans were outright celebrating. After the city lost Luka, they needed a new face, and gaining a generational prospect was appreciated. More than that, the duo of Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale was super exciting on offense! However, it hasn’t gone as fans have expected. Out of their first twelve games, Dallas won only one. Unusual, right? After getting the first overall pick, teams are usually expected to be a lot better than 1-11, but of course, it takes time to build some synergy.

Over the last few games, it looks like things are building in the right direction. Chris Koclanes’ team is currently 4-2 in their last six games, and the squad is finally looking like one unit. The dynamic duo of Bueckers and Ogunbowale is dropping over 35 points each night, while DiJonai Carrington, Maddy Siegrist, and more provide an incredible supportive role.

But, let’s be honest, everyone felt the Wings didn’t have an identity outside of Bueckers and Ogunbowale, even Koclanes! But recently, things have started to change, and after their win over the Mystics, the Dallas HC sat down with the media and let loose some locker room truths. “We’re looking for consistency from night-to-night.” He said. “When Paige is out there? It’s Paige and Arike, and everyone around them in terms of understanding their roles. But we’re at our best when all 5 are hunting within their roles.”

Their victory over Washington, aside from giving them a boost in the leaderboards, also showed Dallas that they can win without Paige. The six-foot-tall point guard sat out the second game during their back-to-back, citing knee injuries. And instead of seeing Bueckers shut the show down against the Mystics, we got to see JJ Quinerly have an absolutely magical night!

It was an amazing win for Dallas, but Chris Koclanes is not satisfied. “I’m searching still. We are searching as a team for what our identity is because it changes from night to night.” The head coach said. “You know Paige and Arike are constants, and that all defenses focus on [them]. I keep talking about our competitive depth, and you’ve seen it!” Without a doubt, if you have players like Quinerly and Aziaha James riding the bench, the team’s depth is not to be trifled with!

Paige Bueckers’ absence created a sense of confidence for the Wings–they can do it with her, they can do it without her. And sometimes? It’s nice to see players showcase what they can do. JJ Quinerly, for one, truly earned her stripes last night. But what did her fellow rookie have to say about her career-high performance? Let’s find out!

Paige Bueckers applauds teammate after an incredible performance

It’s always an incredible feeling to see a rookie have their first breakout game. After all, not everyone bursts onto the scene as a starter, touted as the next big thing. JJ Quinerly, a five-foot-eight guard from West Virginia, finally got her moment, and what a game she had!

With the absence of Paige Bueckers, Quinerly decided it was up to her to carry the offensive load. In her first career start, the Wings guard put up a phenomenal 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 66% from the field! Not only that, she showed real grit and determination on the defensive end as well.

Obviously, the Wings were super excited for their rookie, but Paige Bueckers in particular took a moment to congratulate her fellow guard. “She just said I had a good game,” JJ Quinerly said via Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints. “They always hyping me up, or hyping us up in general. So it was all good vibes all around.” 

Even though Quinerly will probably go back to the bench after Bueckers comes back, there’s sure to be an uptick in her minutes! After all, she has proved that she’s worth more than 7.2 minutes per game, and can provide value for Koclanes’ team. All in all, things are looking up for the Dallas Wings right now.

It will be interesting to see whether they can keep their momentum intact for the rest of the season. They still have quite a ladder to climb in the western conference, but there are plenty of games left. Will Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and the rest of Chris Koclanes’ team have a chance at the playoffs? Or will this excitement fizzle out? Only time will tell.