Paige Bueckers already has plenty of qualities that make her one of the most exciting players in the WNBA. She has the work ethic, the mentality, and the ability to take over a game in ways that can make you forget how early she still is in her professional career. But there is always room for more, and the way Alysha Clark sees it, a major part of Bueckers’ next step is learning how to get the best out of everyone around her, not just herself.
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Speaking on Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston’s Post Moves podcast, Alysha Clark was asked what she believes the next developmental step looks like for Bueckers. And while acknowledging just how complete a player Bueckers already is, Clark outlined the specific layer she believes will take her from excellent to truly elite.
“For me personally, I feel like her next step in her growth is to be able to command and direct a team,” Clark said. “She has the work ethic and the mentality. But I think that learning lesson of, like, when do I insert and go do this myself, and then when do I get them involved and get them where they need to be to make sure that we get what it is that this team needs on whatever possession.”
“I feel like everybody has that growth. So I’m excited to see just how she grows in that space because she has everything else down. There were moments throughout the season where I keep forgetting this is only her second year. This isn’t just her presence, the way that she can command a game, and the way she can take over so easily.”
“You see that in the greats that have been playing five, six, ten years. That’s something that they, and she has that now. And so, just that extra added layer, I mean, I think it’s going to be insane when she can get that,” she added.
Paige Bueckers really did put together a historic sophomore campaign during the 2026 WNBA season, cementing herself as the unquestioned cornerstone of the Dallas Wings franchise. After winning Rookie of the Year honours in 2025, she elevated her game significantly, leading Dallas to a spectacular 27-17 record and a return to the postseason.
She was the undisputed focal point of the Wings’ offence all season, averaging 20.9 points per game and becoming the first player in franchise history to cross 850 total points in a season, finishing with 878. And she achieved all of that on a 51.2/41.0/87.1 shooting split, making her the only WNBA player in 2026 to hit the 50/40/87 shooting thresholds.
She also tied the Wings’ franchise record with a career-high 14 assists in a single game, finished the season averaging 5.9 assists per game, and added 4.1 rebounds per game alongside it all.
Of course, the season ultimately ended in disappointment, ousted by the Golden State Valkyries in a tense three-game first-round series that left Bueckers visibly emotional. But in the broader context, it remains a magnificent campaign to be proud of, both for her individually and for the Wings as a franchise. Coming off a painful 10-34 season in 2025, the 17-win improvement was historic.
The foundation is clearly now in place. And just as Alysha Clark and even Bueckers herself pointed out, what comes next now is improvement.
“So much room for improvement and so much room to grow, very excited to get back to work. Beauty in the journey and grace in the waiting. Gotta love it,” Bueckers wrote on Instagram after the season ended.
It will be fascinating to see what the next level looks like for Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings heading into 2027. If the progression from year one to year two is any indicator, the championship conversation should not be far away, and for Paige Bueckers personally, a serious MVP case may not be far behind that.