No doubt, the intense spotlight on No. 1 draft picks in the WNBA often hides the tough journeys these rookies face. “Any rookie coming into this league, you experience the same thing,” Clark shared once. And she’s right. Expectations are sky-high, and they’re always compared to each other. That was true for the Indiana Fever star, who struggled early on, and now Paige Bueckers is in the same boat. Even though she’s improving, questions come up because the Wings are still winless at 0-3. Moreover, people expect her to match the high bar Caitlin Clark set as the No. 1 pick a year before. But amidst the noise, her mate has a fresh perspective to offer to the league!!!

When Paige Bueckers made her debut for Wings, she was expected to be under the spotlight. Especially since she was coming off several records, whether it’s holding the highest career scoring average at UConn with 19.8 points per game or ranking third all-time with 2,439 points. But what made her arrival even more demanding, though, were constant comparisons to Caitlin Clark. Not just because both were No. 1 pics, but because when they came in through the 2020 class, they were the two top point guards in the country. And then they proved it too. While Clark became a game-changer with a massive fan following and record-breaking stats, Bueckers wasn’t far behind. Yes, she didn’t match Clark’s NCAA scoring record, but she earned something Clark didn’t: a national championship. So, made sense why Wings picked her as the No. 1 overall pick. But at the same time, Wings knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it looked.

So, they started preparing early, with a retooled roster built around their top draft pick, and everything looked solid on paper. But unfortunately, none of those strategies worked, as the team lost its first three games by a combined 27 points. And somehow, at the heart of it has been Bueckers, whose traditional stats haven’t quite stood out. But, still, her teammates believe it doesn’t make her any less impactful on the floor.

So, when asked about Bueckers’ rookie-year struggles, NaLyssa Smith had a clear message: “Paige knows who she is. Paige is a phenomenal player. Like I said, we all come from winning programs. It’s not ideal for any of us to just, you know, start a season 0-3,” she shared. And yes, she’s right. For Bueckers, the team’s success matters more than personal stats. Just look at how she’s already leading all rookies with 6.7 assists per game—a clear sign she’s focused on creating opportunities for her teammates. And why not?? After all, she wants to be a leader. “I want to be a leader, even though it is my rookie season,” she told the Dallas News on Media Day.

So, while Bueckers remains locked in, it’s the team’s struggles that make achieving her goal difficult. And considering that the team is going through a major transition under new head coach Chris Koclanes, it all makes sense. But, no worries. Once the new chemistry clicks, it should be all roses for them or as they are hoping.

“She has great people around her that are keeping her encouraged. You’ll never really see her down or mad or upset about, you know, a slow start,” Smith further shared. Considering the bond Bueckers has already developed with her teammates, Smith’s words make perfect sense. Remember her sharing laughs with DiJonai Carrington during one of those practice sessions? And to be honest, the early struggles she’s enduring as a rookie are nothing new in the W. Be it Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston, or even the game-changer Caitlin Clark—every rookie goes through that same phase. In fact, that’s what makes Smith’s message even more meaningful.

Besides witnessing Clark’s rookie-year struggles firsthand, Smith was also one of the mentors surrounding the Indiana Fever sensation. Even when the Iowa Hawkeyes phenom struggled in her preseason debut, Smith remained hopeful.
“She was effective. Everybody is so focused on her, she’s giving the rest of us opportunities,” she said at the time.

Effective—yes, she was. The 23-year-old phenom then went on to etch her name in over 19 records in her rookie season. And if you think Smith only helped her with mentorship, think again. The duo also had strong on-court chemistry. Take their game against the Wings, for example—when Clark delivered a behind-the-back bounce pass to Smith, who finished with a layup and an and-one opportunity. That play was part of Clark’s record-setting 19-assist game. So clearly, Smith’s got plenty of experience and lessons to pass on to Bueckers.

But Paige Bueckers’ rookie season won’t be like Clark’s.

For Paige Bueckers, the WNBA has been a little tiring. She played throughout the 2024 NCAA season, and just eight days after lifting the trophy, she had her draft night. Shortly after, she arrived at practice sessions to get to know the team, its strategies, and her new teammates.

Then came training camp, which lasted five days before she actually made her debut for the Wings. It’s not just that she didn’t get ample time with the team; it’s been a grueling stretch for her. Something that wasn’t the case for Caitlin Clark, who benefited from an Olympic break in between.

In fact, Clark even spoke about how important that time was for her, to just get away from basketball for a few days. But Bueckers won’t get that privilege until her first offseason. So, clearly, it’s been and is going to be a more exhausting run for her, and it’s already starting to show in her games.

And it’s not just about one or two games. The rookie has been playing 35 minutes per night, a noticeable jump from the just over 30 minutes she averaged at UConn. So the question now is—will the rookie, with the help of experienced vets, adjust to the grind?