Paige Bueckers has already proven herself as one of the WNBA’s most efficient young scorers, averaging 19.2 points per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 87.4% on free throws. Yet despite her polished shot-making and ability to score within the flow of the offense, she still wants to sharpen one key part of her offensive game: her low free-throw attempts.
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“I can definitely try to draw fouls, get to the free throw line more, create and initiate contact, getting to the paint,” she said, during an interview with Melissa Triebwasser on her X page. “When I play, I always take what the defense is giving me, and as soon as I get an open space, I usually shoot. Sometimes I can under penetrate and pull up before I can get to the lane. So that’s something I’m working on, something I read in my game. But, yeah, I would love to get to the free throw line a little bit more.”
The statistics do point to that. While Paige Bueckers is currently putting up MVP-caliber numbers, averaging 19 points and 5.8 assists per game for the Dallas Wings, her low free-throw volume is still obvious. In fact, her free-throw attempts have dropped from an already low 4.2 per game during her rookie season to just 3.5 per game in 2026.
In fact, in a recent game against the Phoenix Mercury, Bueckers exploded for a season-high 31 points without attempting a single free throw. Her team won, and she delivered a brilliant performance, but scoring purely on jump shots without drawing contact limits her potential.
When she doesn’t have a clear shooting opportunity, drawing a foul offers a great alternative. The WNBA has also tightened its whistle this season, which means fouls are more likely to get called.
Bueckers already knows this, and she’s working on it. She’s already tough for defenses to handle because of her efficiency, shot-making, and ability to read coverage. If she adds consistent trips to the free throw line, she becomes harder to contain.
Paige Bueckers’ zero free-throw attempts in the Valkyries’ loss
The Dallas Wings fell to the Golden State Valkyries 91-80 on Wednesday, and despite Paige Bueckers’ solid performance, her free-throw volume problem continues to haunt her. She scored 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, three rebounds, and eight assists, but attempted exactly zero free throws.
Bueckers made several two-pointers and three-pointers to reach that 15-point mark, yet she failed to reach the charity stripe even once. Her all-around game showed promise as well, with three rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block. Those contributions still did not secure a win for the Wings.
And those missing free throws could have changed the outcome. Bueckers is an exceptional free-throw shooter with an 86.6% career rate, so the points she leaves on the table by not drawing contact might be capping her scoring potential.
The loss drops the Wings to 9-6 this season, leaving them ranked No. 7 in the combined league standings. They face the Chicago Sky in their next game, where the Wings will look to return to winning. Bueckers must also hunt for more downhill attacks, initiate contact, and find her way to the free-throw line.
