Paige Bueckers burst onto the professional scene and established a strong presence from the get-go. And her journey from becoming the overall No. 01 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to being crowned 2025 Rookie of the Month was nothing short of extraordinary. So, it was no shock when the Dallas Wings athlete made her debut in the prestigious 2025 All-Star Game. But the rookie’s run does not end here.

While leading the league’s rookies with her current average of 18.2 points and 5.5 assists so far, Bueckers left her mark in the last game against the Golden State Valkyries. In fact, even Valkyries head coach, Natalie Nakase, could not help but praise the versatile guard’s skills after the game. After all, the phenom broke another historical record in the game against the new franchise.

With a score of 17 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 4 steals against the winning roster, the rookie surpassed Caitlin Clark to become the first player ever to record 350 points and 100 assists within the first 20 games of a WNBA career. And while this milestone asked for a celebration, the Wings locker room fell to a gripping 86-76 loss. Though Bueckers worked with Arike Ogunbowale and dominated throughout, the opponents gained the upper hand in the final half.

So, when a reporter asked the Wings rookie about her perspective on the deciding factors that could have changed the course of the showdown, Bueckers had her answers ready. “Yeah, I think free throws, layups, and then the rebounding battle,” Paige answered during the postgame presser. “They got more offensive rebounds than us. And a lot of them were in pivotal points of the game. So, all things we can control and all things we can fix and improve on. So, that’s really the takeaway.”

While the team’s offences have improved over the season, their free throws and layups continue to poke the locker room and fans alike. After all, we all saw what unfolded in the second quarter at Chase Center. The Wings missed five straight field goal attempts, including missed layups by Quinerly and Hayley Jones. Golden State ran off nine straight points to open the quarter, forcing a timeout from Wings head coach Chris Koclanes with 6:28 left in the half. Moreover, Chris Koclanes also emphasised the roster’s shortcomings. While Bueckers admitted to rebounding issues, pointing out that the Valkyries conceded more points, the head coach had a different take on the matter.

Koclanes admitted the real reason behind the rebounding issues. He confessed to multiple switches in this game. And this led to small guards getting pitted against some of the strongest opponents. While switching posed a threat to the Valkyries, it exposed the hollow vulnerabilities of the Wings. And since tackling bigger, stronger opponents is naturally trickier, the collective roster failed to create ample rebounds. Or position themselves in a manner where they could receive rebounds.

While the issues are temporary, Bueckers statement was an indirect demand for the locker room to collectively look into the matter and resolve it. After all, the rookie believes in team building and is hopeful that they will clinch a win if they stick together. “As a team, we’re staying together through all the runs of a season,” the athlete added. “Our progression is coming, and we feel like we can compete in every game. We’ve just got to clean up the little things.”

While the Wings are pushed towards the losing end of the spectrum, Bueckers has been on a personal high, breaking records and adding more to her belt. Moreover, the offensive engine has been a key component for the franchise. And it is her leadership and assistance that have carried the team through the games so far. But it is not the court that the rookie is shining on.

Paige Bueckers marks her Hollywood debut

If someone had asked Paige Bueckers about an acting career five years ago, the rookie would have certainly denied it. As a generational basketball talent, the athlete always had her eyes set on the league. While the No. 1 overall pick’s entry has already marked a cultural shift in the W, it was time for Bueckers to shake things up on the personal end, too.

A user shared a clip featuring Bueckers on X with a caption that read, “Paige Bueckers cameo on the Naked Gun movie promotion! girliepop is really doing side quests.” The Dallas Wings guard recently forayed into Hollywood with a light-hearted cameo.

The nine-second teaser of Naked Gun reboot showcases Bueckers in a playful exchange with Liam Neeson’s character. In a video call, Bueckers can be seen explaining, “I stole the ball right from under her,” when Neeson immediately enters the boardroom with, “Did you say stealing? How do you sleep at night?”

With the film set for an August 01, 2025, release, it featured rookie Bueckers along with other top-tier athletes, including Mookie Betts. This stint not only aims at increasing her visibility beyond basketball but also indirectly provides attention to the league. Moreover, the cameo ensured spotlight stayed on Bueckers even after her 2025 WNBA All-Star debut.