Paige Bueckers has seemed immune to all the noise around her. Whether it is her relationship with Azzi Fudd or her on-court struggles with Dallas Wings, everything is trending. She is under a constant microscope and it should be mentally taxing for a 24-year-old. But she has always been cool, calm and collected while addressing any issues, remaining true to herself through everything. Yet, the All-Star is not without problems as Bueckers has admitted a block that affected her winning mentality

“I think for me it was I was so future-focused and past-focused that I forgot to live in the moment and be present. It became my life motto—owning the moment, owning the possession, owning where my feet are,” Bueckers said in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “Preparation and putting the work in, yes, but in that moment, your thoughts are what’s going to drive you to succeed. That was the main focus for me because during a run I became so afraid of losing that I forgot how to win.”

From college to the WNBA, Paige Bueckers transitioned from a team that wins National Championships for breakfast to a team that barely wins. The Dallas Wings went 10-34 when Paige was a rookie. That’s just not what Bueckers was used to. She lost a cumulative 17 games in 4 years at UConn. And it is bound to affect the mentality because Bueckers was trying her best. 

She led the team in points and assists and was arguably the central reason they won those 10 games. The results were not mirroring what Bueckers was doing, which led to the frustration. And that was the reason for the mindset shift. She and, essentially, the team were trying to avoid the embarrassment of losing more than actively trying to win. There is a difference between the two and a cautious approach breaks easily, unlike a bold one. Ultimately, she has now understood that losing is part of the process.

“I thought of all the ways it could go wrong—the fears, the doubts—instead of confidence and all the work that I had put in and everything that led up to that moment,” Bueckers further said. Being more process-driven than result-driven was key. I think I got lost in my identity in basketball, so to be able to find that again was great.”

At UConn, glory and staying in the cream were instilled into Bueckers’ identity. At the Wings, that crumbled. But Bueckers has committed to the process. Remember what she said towards the end of the season? She channeled her inner Steph Curry and referenced his quote in an appeal to the Wings fans. “I remember Steph Curry, before the Warriors became the Warriors, like, he tweeted out, like, ‘just stick with us… We’re gonna figure it out,” she said. “That’s the message.” 

As Bueckers has developed her mental strength and the capacity to sustain herself through tough times, she has sharpened her leadership ability as well. The second-year is now one of the prominent voices in the locker room and she has credited Unrivaled as a major role for that.  

Paige Bueckers Credits Unrivaled As A Turning Point For Her Leadership

Paige Bueckers was pretty much a part of the Dallas Wings’ decision-making group last year. Even as a rookie, her maturity and on-court performance warranted it. However, she lacked WNBA experience, which was one of the reasons all the changes did not translate into immediate results. Now, she comes in with a year’s WNBA experience under her belt. But for Bueckers, an essential part of her leadership arc is her time in Unrivaled, where she was forced to take on that mantle. 

She was picked by the Breeze alongside the likes of Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, Dominique Malonga and Kate Martin. It was a team of youngsters where Bueckers was put in a tough spot. 

“I was forced to use my voice and be put in an uncomfortable position where I was leading an entirely new team that I hadn’t built relationships with,” she said. “I’m a big relationship person, and I believe I can lead where I’m at because I have those relationships to have tough conversations, hold people accountable, and connect with people on that level.”

She had played with none of the players in her Unrivaled squad. Which means she had to build that rapport from the ground up in a short time. The Unrivaled competition barely lasted weeks and the 3v3 games were short. “Having that experience at Unrivaled really challenged me to be a vocal leader, to be comfortable, and to find confidence in using my voice and building those relationships quickly,” Bueckers further said. 

That evolution will help the Wings, who have made some major moves in the market. They brought in Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who are veterans. Bueckers will help them adjust to the new system and franchise. Even with the change in process, everything is judged by results. Sadly, that’s the truth of the world we live in and Paige Bueckers would have to show tangible improvement with this changed squad.