For years, the Dallas Wings have struggled, reaching the playoffs only 3 times in the last 8 seasons. Paige Bueckers’ arrival gave them hope, and the uptick showed in their opening-game win against the Indiana Fever. After the Caitlin Clark test, Bueckers is slated to face her next rival, as the point guard has detailed how Angel Reese might trouble them ahead of the Atlanta Dream clash. 

Bueckers and Reese have no personal rivalry as such. But that healthy competition breeds some fire in Bueckers whenever she plays Reese. “I love Angel as a competitor. We’re great friends off the court as well. and she just brings the best out of you. She’s a crap talker just like me to be able to have that,” Bueckers said. Now as they are set to face each other for the first time this season, Paige Bueckers has opened up on Reese’s impact on the floor. 

“On both ends of the floor, she’s a paint presence on both sides. Defensively, she can switch and guard one through five,” Bueckers said. “Offensively, she’s a great screener, great roller, great passer, can finish around the rim, and provides a different spark for them. Her energy is contagious and brings confidence to her teammates.”

Reese showed how she elevates this Atlanta team in that first game. She had 11 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, including the game-winning block. Her paint protection was the reason the Dream brought her in to give their shooters a presence inside. And the effect was evident in Atlanta’s first game. With Reese on the floor, the Minnesota Lynx shot at 51.9 eEFG%. But when she was off, that number went up to 59.4%. 

Reese wasn’t in the same form offensively, shooting 4-11 from the field. However, she did not let it drag her down in other areas and recovered with some clutch buckets later in the game. But her screening was essential in getting their shooters free. That spirit is even more promising for the Dream and dangerous for Paige Bueckers and Co. Her versatility gives them too many problems to worry about.

Nevertheless, even the Wings possess the weapons to shut down Reese, at least on her offense. They have brought in the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, Alanna Smith, as well as Jessica Shepard. Bueckers herself has bulked up and improved on her defense, too. And there are weaknesses in Reese’s game. Her finishing around the rim is improving, but still clunky, so a mildly contested shot is difficult for her, especially when she has not yet settled into her new team. 

While handling her defense, they have brought in enough size in Awak Kuier and Li Yueru to try to screen her off when she switches to the perimeter. They can also stretch the floor with 3-level shooters like Azzi Fudd, Arike Ogunbowale, and Paige Bueckers. However, to counter pesky defenders like Reese and others, the Wings are adjusting by moving Bueckers to a different position.

Paige Bueckers Moving Away From The Point Guard After Odyssey Sims’ Emergence

Last year, the Wings had Paige Bueckers doing everything. She was creating chances, scoring while being the linchpin of the team. However, this season the team has added some veteran pieces around her for support. And one of them is Odyssey Sims, who impressed in the first game. She had 20 points and 2 assists while adding 2 steals. 

The interesting part was that there were periods where Sims took over the point guard position over Bueckers. Bueckers finished with a usage rate of just 17.4% and was successful too with 20 points and 4 assists. And Jose Fernandez’s comments suggest that this trend will continue. 

“I thought she did well, scored 20 points, did a very good job defensively,” Fernandez said regarding Sims via Dallas Hoops Journal. “It’s just, for me, I want to save Paige’s legs down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The more I can play her off the ball, we know she’s going to get trapped at the point guard spot and in some pick-and-roll situations. And also, when she’s at the point guard spot, what do other teams do? They pick her up 94 feet and try to wear her out for 60 of it. So, I mean, for right now, that’s our lineup, and that’s what I’m gonna go with.”

Going against the likes of Reese and the Dream, which have immense length, Bueckers will be tested. But the Wings showed they can move the ball around effectively to give anyone on the floor a good look. And with the quality that Bueckers has, she can impact games just with her midrange gravity, collapsing the defense inside. It is set to be a tasty clash between two teams vying to take the next step in their progression and become playoff regulars.