Fans Left Conflicted as Paige Bueckers Likely to Live Through Caitlin Clark WNBA Trajectory

Sometimes, it feels like Paige Bueckers skipped a couple of levels while coming into the league. She doesn’t play like a rookie, and it didn’t take her long to learn the ropes. Déjà vu, anyone? That’s because we’ve seen this story before. Caitlin Clark and Bueckers might play two very different brands of basketball, but their trajectories? Practically identical. PB is already a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, locked in as an All-Star starter, and well on her way to an All-WNBA First Team nod, just like her old Iowa rival. But before she can grab all the glory, she might have to survive the same analyst autopsy Clark went through last year, like with that ESPN article, which predicted her to be a second honoree instead.

To be honest, though, the stats back up every accolade PB deserves. After a standout career at UConn, Bueckers didn’t miss a single step while transitioning to the W. In her rookie year, the Dallas Wings star is averaging 18.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Not to mention, she’s showing out defensively too, keeping active hands and getting a steal and a half every night. That said, while her case for Rookie of the Year is rock solid, some argue that First Team honors are a different story. To make that squad, she’d need to be a top-2 guard in the league, and at this moment, that might be a stretch. Still, the latest infographic from the Dallas Wings suggests they believe Paige Bueckers has a real shot at it.

The Wings rocked the First Team agenda for their star player on X, as they should! In the infographic that they posted, they showed how Bueckers has the most points scored by a player this season, thanks to her 44-point game against LA, and how she ranks top ten in PPG, APG, and SPG in the WNBA as just a rookie. Although it’s quite a case that the Dallas Wings are trying to make, the WNBA community isn’t convinced. The response to this post was a mixed bag, to say the least.

Fans are uncertain about Paige Bueckers’ All-WNBA chances

Here’s the thing about All-WNBA teams: There’s an expectation to win that goes unsaid. Individual performances will only get you so far in terms of awards, but if your team isn’t good? Well, none of it ends up mattering! Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings haven’t been able to catch a steady rhythm this year, and the Chris Koclanes-coached team is at the bottom of the entire WNBA. So, what we have is a rather complicated question: Does Paige deserve it based on stats alone? Let’s see how she stacks up against other contenders.

• Kelsey Plum: 20.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.8 APG

• Kelsey Mitchell: 20.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.4 APG

• Paige Bueckers: 18.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.4 APG

• Sabrina Ionescu: 18.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.4 APG

• Allisha Gray: 18.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.6 APG

Looking at pure statistical comparisons, she does make a case. However, fans aren’t sure. After Dallas posted the campaign infographic, the account was accused of pushing agendas by a lot of the fans. Hate comments and abuses started rolling in, but what else accompanied them? The actual viewpoint of the WNBA community.

Obviously, there were die-hard Paige Bueckers supporters. “ROTY. ALL-WNBA. LETS GO MY GOAT.” A fan said on X, pulling out all the stops for PB7. While another fan agreed that Bueckers is redefining greatness as a rookie in the W. “She’s arguably having one of the greatest individual seasons for a rook in wnba history!” Now, yes, what Bueckers is doing is clearly generational, but it’s important to make the distinction between one of the greatest individual rookie seasons versus the best rookie season for a guard in the WNBA. Sabreena Merchant, from the NY Athletic, had an easy distinction to make. “I think I can’t call Paige’s rookie season the best by guard because Caitlin still has her beat on a lot of categories and leads her team to the playoffs.” And that’s only one of the knocks against her rookie season.

Someone was quick to point out that Paige Bueckers’ frequent injuries this season meant that she shouldn’t be eligible to win any season awards or earn All-WNBA honors. “Due to the fact she only played 32 of there 40 games & probably won’t even play 35 this season, she shouldn’t even be eligible for any awards or all WNBA teams. NBA you have to play 80% of the season to be eligible, WNBA has no rule it makes no sense.“ The Dallas Wings star missed quite a few games this year. First, it was because of a concussion, and then some minor injuries here and there. Yet, as pointed out in the comment itself, if there’s no such rule, why stick to that? In W, as of now, things are more about impact and quality, which Bueckers, after setting or breaking several records despite playing fewer games, has had enough of.

Bueckers became the first player since 1968 to score 40 or more points in both an NCAA Tournament game and an NBA/WNBA game within the same calendar year. Only two others have ever achieved this remarkable feat—basketball legends Oscar Robertson in 1960 and Elvin Hayes in 1968. And if you think the 44 points are the only highlight, then listen to this. As per PaigeReport, “Against the three most commonly endorsed 2025 All-WNBA Guards, Paige Bueckers is… 2nd in PPG, 3rd in RPG, T-1st in APG, 1st in STL/G, 1st in BLK/G, 1st in FG%, 2nd in FT%, 2nd in eFG%…The only guard among the group to rank Top 10 in 3 major statistical categories“. Not to forget that she had a 16-point and 10-assist double-double against the league’s best defense.

Now, it would be a lie to say that Paige Bueckers couldn’t impact Dallas basketball. Sure, she didn’t have the selling power that Caitlin Clark has, but the six-foot-tall point guard made the Wings fun to watch again. But some fans aren’t buying it. After all, the team wins just don’t reflect greatness right now! “How do you think she’s gonna make All WNBA First Team with the worst record In the WNBA in an expansion year She had that one amazing 44 point game ok no impact on the team or the league.” A fan said, and it was a common sentiment as another agreed! “No. Good season but there are others more deserving who have had larger impacts on their teams success this year.” And they do have their stats to back them up. Another fan wrote-

“Only 4 rookies of year have ever been named first team All Wnba ( here are their team records)  2024- Caitlin Clark 20-20, 2008- Candace Parker 20-14, 2004- Diana Taurasi 17-17, 2002- Tamika Catchings 16-16, 2025 Paige Bueckers 9-30???” But, to be fair, Bueckers has never cost her team a win. If anything, she has brought them closer to holding their own on the floor, despite not having an elite big in her corner. And there’s another side. Players finishing under .500 have made the First-Team before.

• • Skylar Diggins: twice (2014 with 12-22 Tulsa, 2022 with 15-21 Phoenix)

  • Arike Ogunbowale: 2020 (8-14 record, missed playoffs)

  • Angel McCoughtry: 15-19 Atlanta Dream

At the end of the day, we don’t know what’s gonna happen. There’s no doubting that Paige Bueckers has been phenomenal this year. In fact, she could be the only one out of the above contenders with the highest efficiency. Still, the awards are up to the league, not us. It will be interesting to see whether Bueckers will earn First Team honors, and how the W will react if she does! Stay tuned for more updates.