Paige Bueckers delivered 20 points in a thrilling 107-104 win for the Dallas Wings over the Indiana Fever. Honestly, that alone was already a big talking point from the season opener. However, ESPN broadcaster Holly Rowe drew attention to another interesting detail beyond Bueckers’ performance alone.

Speaking on the broadcast during the game, Rowe pointed out that Paige Bueckers added 15 pounds of muscle since the end of last season. That is, she is now at 160 pounds, compared to the 145 pounds she reportedly weighed last year. Whether or not the exact figure is entirely accurate, adding significant muscle mass provides several strategic advantages for a high-level guard like Bueckers.

Added weight makes her harder to displace and enables her to power through defenders to finish stronger at the rim. With more strength, she could also become more capable of holding her ground against larger players if switched onto them in the post. It can also help her fight through screens more effectively, staying attached to her defensive assignment.

But regardless of any added weight that might help elevate her game even further, Paige Bueckers is, without a doubt, already a top player for the Wings. Last season, as a rookie, she was historic. She led all rookies in total points (692), points per game (19.2), and assists per game (5.4). She also became the first player in WNBA history to score 40+ points while shooting at least 80% from the field in a single game, among several other remarkable achievements.

And with her performance against Indiana to begin this season, she has most definitely picked up right where she left off in her rookie year. She added three rebounds and four assists alongside her 20 points. Unlike last season, however, her impressive performances are now beginning to translate into results for a Dallas Wings team that finished just 10-34 last year. They will now hope to build on that momentum with another victory against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.

Paige Bueckers Admits Dallas Wings Must Improve Defensively Despite Season-Opening Win

Kicking off the season with a win, and against a strong opponent like the Indiana Fever, is an encouraging result for the Dallas Wings. But the high-scoring, back-and-forth nature of the 107–104 contest left little doubt that there is still meaningful work to be done on the defensive end, even in victory.

Paige Bueckers acknowledged exactly that in her postgame interview when asked what she felt still needed improvement despite the win. “I think building a wall and playing as a fist on defense,” she said. For Bueckers, the clearest example of where the defense fell short was the freedom they afforded Kelsey Mitchell, who finished with a whopping 30 points on the night. “I felt like we let Kelsey Mitchell get off a little bit, get to the paint without any disruption,” Bueckers said.

Another area Bueckers flagged was the team’s tendency to defend by fouling rather than through disciplined positioning. And she was quite correct because they actually committed 28 personal fouls in the game. They particularly struggled to contain Caitlin Clark’s aggressiveness without sending her to the line. In fact, Clark alone attempted 13 free throws, converting 11 of them.

Bueckers, however, offered some perspective on it, though, noting that “it’s better to have to tone down the physicality than to lift it up.” The goal is to continue improving both defensively and fundamentally as the season progresses. As Paige said, “We’ll continue to get better. But I think our discipline, being able to box out and rebound, and deliver teams to one shot as well.” Getting this win is already a good start. Hopefully, they build on it, fix necessary flaws, and get the next win.