“She’s a risk-taker and you’re gonna have to live with that.” Geno Auriemma said as he gave his two cents on how to coach the star. “In the end you have to understand she wants to win as much as you do and she’ll spend more time in the gym than you do.” While it’s beyond a speck of doubt that Bueckers is loved across Connecticut, Miss Buckets is now being embraced by the fans in Dallas. National Champion and the #1 pick, she is undoubtedly expected to make an instant impact. But as defenses are expected to have a tough time containing her, there’s another threat on the Wings who can neutralize opponents if overlooked.
While Paige rightly attracted all the attention at the draft, it was Dallas’ 14th pick that flew under the radar. After playing a key role in Ole Miss’ NCAA Tournament trips in her 5 years there, Madison Scott now takes her talents to Dallas, where she hopes to play Robin to Bueckers’ Batman. Scott brings much to the table, but her versatility makes her a player who can be a consistent feature in the WNBA. The league continues to move towards a faster pace of basketball and pick-and-roll heavy systems, as maximizing spacing becomes the top priority.
Madison is one of the few players in recent drafts who can guard all positions, 1 to 5, showcasing her defensive versatility. “I love to compete, especially on that defensive end. It starts there.” Scott said. Her defensive tenacity resulted in her inclusion on the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2023 & 2024 during her time at Ole Miss.
With a rare blend of size, agility, and strength, Madison’s positional awareness simply becomes the cherry on top of the cake. Willing to do the dirty work and dive on loose balls, her most impressive displays are reserved on the defensive end, as many believe she has the legitimate potential to become an All-Defense caliber player in the W if she earns a starting role. But it is her offensive development that is a cause for concern and might hold the keys to the Wings’ future.
“Tremendous athlete and solid defender, [Can be better] if she can find ways to get to the rim more often, but there are worries there as she loves to take those 14-foot pull-up jumpers,” National Analyst Lincoln Schafer said of Madison on the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast. With a career 3-point percentage of 21.4%, it is no secret that the best of Scott’s offense comes through the interior.
While she has been good from mid-range this season, it remains to be seen if she can consistently keep it up. However, it seems as though she would best help the Wings by being aggressive in her drives and collapsing the defense, opening up the floor for other adept scorers such as Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
At 6’2″, she offers good size and versatility on the wing, and uses that size to crash the boards well. A strong rebounder in college, she finished her career with over 1,000 rebounds and became only the 4th player to reach that mark for the Ole Miss Rebels. Scott may have potential offensively, but she can make immediate impact on the other end, and does appear to be on path to turn into a key piece for the Wings’ future.
The Wings’ rebuild continues
The draft strategy of a team effectively chalks out their plans heading into a season, and the Wings appear laser-focused on the future. Their 3 picks in this draft present pieces that aren’t just college basketball stars, but can also potentially work well off of each other. While we all know what to expect from Paige Bueckers, Azaiah James is another lethal scoring guard who effectively led NC State to the Final Four last year. A three-level scorer, she can take shots from mid and long range, and is not afraid to take it to the rim either.
The presence of a tremendous defensive talent in Madison Scott could set up a young core that can dominate the WNBA in the future, but what are the other factors in this rebuild that provide optimism?
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Semifinal-Connecticut at UCLA Apr 4, 2025 Tampa, FL, USA Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers 5 plays against the UCLA Bruins during second quarter in a semifinal of the women s 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Tampa Amalie Arena FL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNathanxRayxSeebeckx 20250404_ajw_fo8_283
Speaking of elite scorers, the Wings have Arike Ogunbowale in their ranks, who can be a handful for defenders. Her presence not only provides the Wings a reliable scorer, but her experience can be of immense value to Bueckers and Azaiah as they seek to adapt to the physicality that WNBA defenses bring. While nobody likes guarding Arike, Madison Scott seems like the kind to take that challenge head-on, and their battles in training camp will surely help Scott learn the techniques elite scorers will be using on her as the season goes on.
With the Wings deciding not to trade for a star, the team will rely on surrounding Bueckers with the right role players. The track record of Wings executive vice president and GM Curt Miller is cause for excitement for the Wings’ fans, as they’re expected to use a system that favors Bueckers.
As the Sparks’ head coach last season, Miller called for the second-most on-ball screens per game in the WNBA, according to Second Spectrum. With new head coach Chris Koclanes at the helm, his 5 year tenure as Miller’s assistant for the Connecticut Sun could mean they’ll heavily rely on pick-and-roll scenarios where Paige prospered in her senior year.
Through these scenarios, Paige won’t just be able to create her own shots, but also free up scorers like Arike and Azaiah, making for an interesting season. The answer to all speculation will arrive on the 2nd of May, when the Dallas Wings take on the Las Vegas Aces, hoping to implement plans from the offseason with their new young stars on display.
The post Not Paige Bueckers but Another Dallas’ Draft Pick Might Pose Serious Threat to WNBA Opponents, Per National Analyst appeared first on EssentiallySports.
