Chris Koclanes Declares Paige Bueckers Among League’s Best as Rookie Faces Former Mentor & Lynx

Despite missing out on a playoff berth, the adversities aren’t getting any better for the Wings. As they face the league’s top Minnesota Lynx, the team is already shorthanded with seven players added to the injured list. This means just eight players, including hardship signees, will go against a fully loaded Lynx squad in tonight’s game. But even with an injury list the length of his rotation, the head coach isn’t sweating.

“The analytics trends say layups and threes, but if you’re efficient at that mid-range, can get to your spots, and generate open looks, that’s an efficient shot for a handful of players,” Koclanes said. “We’re lucky to have one of those elite players on our team.”

Those words didn’t come easy for Paige Bueckers. Just a couple of hours before the game against Minnesota, Bueckers was listed as probable to play. “It’s something that I felt after the Atlanta game,” she told Dallas Hoops Journal. “So just being cautious, making sure my body’s ready to go. Calves are not something you want to play with, so just being careful and cautious.”

Despite acknowledging that her left calf needed to be managed carefully, Bueckers was upgraded to available. She knew her team needed her the most, and she was right there supporting them against all odds. Well, the head coach put it best when he shared: “It’s got to be up there… She impacts winning and makes everybody on our team better.”

Averaging 18.9 points with 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, Bueckers has been the lone constant in a Wings season marred by injuries and hardship signings. Despite the Wings’ league-worst 9-31 record, her poise and production have kept them competitive.

“And she’s getting everybody’s best look—not just from one defender but multiple defenders. You’ve seen all the clips lately of everyone’s game plan: throw two, three, four, five bodies at her. To be able to handle that, for anybody but especially as a rookie going through this gauntlet the first time, it just speaks volumes about the type of player she is,” Koclanes added when asked about her chances of earning an All-WNBA spot.

The UConn alumna has spent most of her WNBA debut year putting defenses on notice. But ever since she dropped 44 points against the LA Sparks, opponents have doubled down on trying to slow her. And they’ve succeeded, too. The Valkyries pulled a stop on her 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games with just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting. However, that’s become a rare scenario. Bueckers has found a way out, thanks to her mid-range game, which has been a stabilizing force for the Wings.

While the league often emphasizes three-pointers and shots at the rim, her mid-range shots have been the reliable option for the team to set the tone.

“I truly think basketball has gotten away from it—it’s mostly layups and threes. Teams don’t know how to guard it. So I think it’s an advantage when you can score in the mid-range,” Bueckers told ESPN’s Michael Voepel earlier this month. It makes sense, since she’s leading the league with 1.8 field goals made from 10–14 feet and ranks No. 2 with 1.4 field goals made from 15–19 feet. So, yes, Bueckers deserves to be mentioned among the league’s best. But the upcoming game isn’t going to be easy for the rookie!

PB gotta face her “Big sister” as opponent…

For Bueckers, who grew up in Minnesota, the trip is especially nostalgic. It offers both familiarity and perspective, which is why she made sure to visit the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s fun. Having that home trip early in the season, as you’re just getting comfortable in the league, to have a trip back home where you feel comfortable is great… And then at the end, to be able to have that full circle moment—and for it to line up perfectly with the state fair—was outstanding,” she told Dallas Hoops Journal.

But it isn’t just the place that’s nostalgic. Though opponents now, the matchup also marks the reunion of the “big sister–little sister” bond. The same bond that started forming ever since PB stepped into the Dallas Wings– Paige Bueckers x DiJonai Carrington that helped the rookie through the challenges of her first.

So, when Bueckers saw Nai, she just couldn’t help herself. She went straight to her during warmups and gave “DC” a tight surprise hug before doing their special handshake. But that was just a matter of minutes, because once Bueckers stepped on the court, she was as dominant as always!