She was hailed as ready-made for the pros. “She’ll honestly fit right in,” Caitlin Clark told Sue Bird when talking about Paige Bueckers and her WNBA potential.But the leap isn’t without turbulence—not even for the chosen ones. Diana Taurasi had her growing pains. Clark had hers. Now it’s Bueckers’ turn. And while she’s dodging a different kind of screen in Dallas, her GM has made the target crystal clear: get to the line, and knock them down.
In a league where margins define legends, the Dallas Wings aren’t just easing Paige Bueckers in—they’re sharpening her for greatness. GM Curt Miller made his intentions crystal clear in his first press conference. With Bueckers already boasting over 50% from the field, north of 40% from deep, and flirting with 90% at the line, she’s brushing up against the elite 50/40/85 club. But Miller’s vision doesn’t settle for almost.
“She will be shooting extra foul shots so we can get to that 90 so she can be the 50/40/90,” he said, calling her “one special player and special addition to Dallas.”
There’s weight behind those numbers. In her NCAA career, Bueckers went 341-of-401 from the free-throw line—a clean 85.0%. But in the WNBA, the bar is higher and the contact, harder. Caitlin Clark, in her rookie season alone, got to the free throw line 180 times—nearly 44% of the total free-throw attempts Bueckers ever had in college. That context explains the push. For Bueckers, it’s no longer about avoiding contact—it’s about absorbing it and cashing in.
Sara Jane Gamelli, a WNBA and NBA writer, posted on X about Miller’s stated aim: to help Bueckers become a true 50/40/90 player—an elite benchmark in basketball. Her post included a short video clip of Bueckers working on her free throws, methodically refining what could be the difference between stardom and superstardom.
Curt Miller stated that one of his goals is to help Paige Bueckers succeed as a 50/40/90 player and emphasized increased free-throw shots in practice (intro presser) https://t.co/achYC0xONi
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) April 29, 2025
But the good news for Bueckers? She doesn’t have to carry Dallas on her own. Unlike Clark’s Fever debut, where opposing defenses honed in on a lone star, Bueckers walks into a stacked Wings roster. Arike Ogunbowale will command gravity on the perimeter. NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington offer muscle and skill. The system won’t revolve around Bueckers, but it could flourish because of her.
She’s not perfect yet—but she’s building. And with a GM already tailoring her path toward greatness, the story of Paige Bueckers in Dallas is just getting to the free-throw line.
But how is she transitioning ?
Paige Bueckers’ WNBA Transition Begins
Well, when a journalist asked this question the rookie grinned and kept it blunt: “Honestly, screens I got hit by. That would be the first, like, ‘Wow. Okay, this is different.’”
It’s only the second day of Dallas Wings training camp, but early signs suggest Bueckers is adjusting to the physicality and speed of the league—and quickly forming bonds that will ease the transition. One of those bonds? 4-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale.
“It’s been two good days; we’ve been playing well together,” Ogunbowale told Joey Mistretta. “I think there’s been a lot of good combinations—her and myself, her and other people, me and other people. So it’s been good.”
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Championship Practice-Connecticut Apr 5, 2025 Tampa, FL, USA UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers 5 talks to media before the NCAA Womans Final practice at Amalie Arena. Tampa Amalie Arena FL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNathanxRayxSeebeckx 20250405_nrs_fo8_0046
That chemistry isn’t confined to the hardwood. Bueckers has been spotted sharing laughs and social media moments with DiJonai Carrington and others, embracing the locker room energy that so often translates into on-court cohesion. Still, she knows there’s work ahead.
“Learning a new offense, being a leader on the court, being the quarterback on the court… I did some of that in college, more in high school,” Bueckers admitted. “But just leaning on the coaching staff, communicating with teammates—it helps a lot.”
Her WNBA debut is set for May 2 at Notre Dame —Ogunbowale’s alma mater, against Aja Wilson’s LV Aces. The symbolism is rich. The challenge is real. But if chemistry is the key, Paige Bueckers already has a few strong passes in motion.
The post Paige Bueckers Not Perfect Yet as Eyewitness Confirms Dallas Rookie Working to Improve After Wings GM Set Clear Goal appeared first on EssentiallySports.
