“And the one thing I know about Paige is she’s so grounded, so patient, and she’s so prepared. She’s learned that in the last four or five years, and all those things that she learned at Connecticut are going to change the way you look at that team. One day, she’s going to end up being the best player in the league for sure.” These were the words of Diana Taurasi, who is confident that Paige Bueckers will be the best player in the league. High praise from one UConn icon to another. But as much as the white mamba’s words carry weight, not everyone is ready to hand Bueckers the crown just yet.

One of the most glorious Paiges of Bueckers’ career was written this Tuesday. Back in Connecticut, where she first made her name as a college star at UConn, the Dallas Wings rookie put on a clinic, dropping 21 points and dishing out 7 assists in a dominant 109-87 win over the Sun. It was a vintage Paige performance that secured her first win in the W.

Naturally, the performance sparked praise from none other than Diana Taurasi herself. But not everyone’s ready to hop on that hype train just yet. Rachel DeMita, for one, is pumping the brakes. She had a lot to say about Taurasi’s comments on her YouTube channel.

She said, “I actually don’t have an issue with Diana saying this. She rides hard for UConn and rides hard for UConn players… I think Paige is a great player and I think that she’ll have a great career in the WNBA. Do I think that she’s going to end up being the best player in the league? No. She actually isn’t even clearly the best rookie so far in this WNBA season. But she is also playing for a horrible team in the Dallas Wings.”

DeMita’s not doubting Paige’s talent, she’s just pointing out the obvious: the Wings are a mess right now. With a roster full of new faces trying to gel with Arike Ogunbowale, it’s no surprise they’re struggling to find their rhythm. DeMita thinks Paige needs a better supporting cast, like she had at UConn with stars like Azzi Fudd, to really dominate.

Paige has definitely shown flashes of brilliance to kick off her rookie year, putting up 14.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. Solid numbers by any standard! But so far, it’s only translated to one win. Playing for the struggling Wings doesn’t exactly help her case right now–but as we’ve seen time and again in the W, teams can turn things around quickly from one season to the next.

That said, Bueckers isn’t walking away with Rookie of the Year without a fight. Two Mystics rookies–Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron are right there in the mix. Iriafen is putting up a strong 14.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Citron is averaging 15 points and 4 boards. Both were clutch once again last night, playing key roles in the Mystics’ 83-77 win over the Fever. This rookie race is heating up fast! And this is why DeMita isn’t agreeing with the white mamba on this one!

While the debate about whether Paige can truly become the best player in the world is far from over, one thing is clear–she won’t get anywhere close to that conversation if the Wings keep playing the way they are right now. And it’s not just fans feeling frustrated. One national reporter didn’t hold back when calling out the team’s struggles. Let’s dive into what he had to say.

Logan Murdock not happy with the way Paige Bueckers and co are playing

National NBA and WNBA writer Logan Murdock didn’t hold back when discussing the Dallas Wings’ tough 1-4 start on The Ringer WNBA Show. “Just seeing a whole bunch of just terrible sets, just uninspired play except for Paige. That’s what I see every game, like this team s-cks. Damn, Paige is a gamer. Wow! And then that’s… my game recap for every Dallas Wings game. ‘Oh, s—, did you see what Paige just did?’” he said.

Murdock’s frustration hits on something deeper, it’s like the Wings are a puzzle with all the pieces scattered. Paige is out there balling, but the team’s lack of chemistry is dragging her down. He even highlighted the team’s struggles beyond Bueckers’ individual brilliance. It’s no wonder some are calling this a “locker room confession”, it feels like the team’s spirit just isn’t clicking yet.

A lot of the spotlight has shifted toward Chris Koclanes, who stepped into the head coaching role for the first time in 2025. Previously a longtime assistant and video coordinator under Curt Miller in both Los Angeles and Connecticut, Koclanes is still finding his footing in the big chair. And it’s evident!

His lack of head coaching experience is definitely starting to show, and now he finds himself trying to guide a young team through one of the most competitive eras in league history.

The WNBA’s stacked right now, teams like the Aces, Liberty, and Lynx are setting a crazy high bar. Paige is trying to make her mark in a league where young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are already raising the game. If the Wings want to keep up, Coach Koclanes has to build a system that lets Paige shine while fixing their defense, which ranked 11th out of 12 teams in defensive rating last season .

Only time will tell if he is able to do it or not, but one thing is certain! If Paige Bueckers is ever going to reach her full potential and become the best player in the league, her coach’s ability to lead and develop this squad is going to play a huge role.