Victory still eludes Paige Bueckers. The No. 1 draft pick came into the 2025 season with little hope for the rebuilding team, as is the case with many of the top rookies throughout history. But the young star is not used to losing three games on the trot. With UConn, she lost a total of three games throughout the entire 2024-25 season, and now she has lost just as much within three games.
It certainly is the big leagues and a different team and a new coach to work with. Chris Koclanes is learning the ropes as well, with this being his first head coach job. He has taken over a team that went 9-31 last year and is completely starting new. Bueckers has had some standout performances, with her first double-double against Minnesota but the Lynx scraped by with a close 85-81 win.
Following that loss, Koclanes had some harsh criticism for his team and what they can do better moving forward. He said in the postgame interview, “I think we can get up the floor quicker and the more we do that, the more our offense will flow so I think right now we’re just a little stagnant on offense because we’re not establishing initial space so we need better speed offensively.”
It seems going forward, he wants his team to catch the opponents off guard with fast attacks but that has not worked out for them so far. In their last game they had just 8 fast break points, while Minnesota had 22. Bueckers has been the primary creator for the squad so far, leading the team in assists per game. The quality should be matched to some extent throughout the squad for an attack like this to work.
They need smooth passing and clever runs immediately on the other end of the court after they get that defensive rebound, which they ideally should. Myisha Hines-Allen and Bueckers need to look out for those runners for long passes. With 95.1 possessions per 40 minutes, they are the 7th slowest team in the league. Bueckers needs to take a page out of Caitlin Clark’s book, as the Indiana Fever averages 99.5 possessions per 40 minutes. The attack is not only the problem, as their defense needs to be heavily improved.
Koclanes has long been known for his defensive acumen. From 2016 to 2022, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Connecticut Sun, working alongside head coach Curt Miller. During his tenure, the Sun consistently ranked among the league’s top defensive units. In 2023, Koclanes transitioned to the Los Angeles Sparks, again taking on the role of defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Sparks finished the season ranked third in the WNBA in opponent scoring and led the league in both steals and opponent turnovers.
So defense is his specialty, and how are they faring so far? They stand 11th in the defensive rating this year so far, which is better than last season but not good enough. Myisha Hines Allen has impressed so far with 7.3 rebounds per game but she has little support, with the next best rebounder on their team being Nalyssa Smith, who stands outside of the top 30 in the league with 5.0 per game. Considering Koclanes’ specialty is that, we can expect more improvement in that regard. Paige is leading the team in steals with 1.7 per game and that number needs to go up as well if they want to execute their fast-paced offense.
So, plenty of things to work out for Bueckers and Co., but this was expected, according to WNBA legend Diana Taurasi. She also made some huge claims regarding the player Bueckers might turn out to be.
Diana Taurasi lauds Paige Bueckers despite losing start
Pressure is something Diana Taurasi knows a thing or two about, considering she is a fellow No. 1 Draft pick and possibly the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. The common factors don’t end there, as Taurasi is a UConn alum too, leading the college to three consecutive national championships. Coming into the WNBA, Taurasi was already pegged to be one of the best players, just like Bueckers.
Credits: Imagn
Now, Bueckers is earning high praise from none other than Diana Taurasi herself, the very icon who has already blazed the trail Bueckers now walks. During her appearance on No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, Taurasi made a bold claim about Bueckers’ future in the league.
“It’s a different beast. There are different challenges as an individual and as a team,” Taurasi said of Bueckers’ transition from college to the WNBA. “When you get drafted number one, you’re usually going to a team that’s rebuilding, that’s starting to try something new.
As we’ve discussed, Bueckers is facing multiple challenges, both on and off the court, but these early setbacks will be pivotal in her development. She is learning, adapting, and growing through every obstacle. When the team eventually comes together and forms a truly formidable squad, she will be more than ready to rise to the occasion and deliver her best. The rough diamond, full of potential, and the problems are the very forces that will shape her into a complete and resilient player.
Taurasi later added, “The one thing I know about Paige is she’s so grounded, she’s so patient, she’s so prepared. And I think she has learned that in the past four or five years. And all those things that she learned at Connecticut, they’re going to change the way you look at [Dallas].”
“One day she’s going to end up being the best player in the league, for sure,” Taurasi said.
To become the best player, Bueckers must first prove herself as the best rookie. This will not come easy, especially with the strong competition she faces this year. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have been outstanding, forming a formidable duo in Washington. Still, the path to greatness is forged through challenges like these. Diana Taurasi’s glowing remarks will no doubt fuel Bueckers’ confidence as she and her team head into the upcoming matchup against the Atlanta Dream, still searching for their first victory.
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