Paige Bueckers showed why she holds keys to Dallas Wings’ season in win over Indiana Fever
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Wings were at rock bottom in 2025 when they selected Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick. They were fresh off a nine-win season and moving on to their third coach in four seasons, when Bueckers became the rope thrown to the drowning franchise.
But even she can’t work miracles. At least, not in Year 1 anyway, as the Wings missed the playoffs. But Saturday, as the Wings opened the 2026 season against the Indiana Fever with a 107-104 win in Bueckers’ sophomore season debut, a franchise that’s been adrift looked like it could finally see land.
“I’ve been saying, I feel like this is the best roster we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Wings four-time All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale said. “It’s just complete. ” Bueckers wasn’t the final piece of the missing puzzle, but she was the catalyst.
After her rookie season ended with 10 wins, the Wings’ second-straight without a postseason, Dallas opted to find its fourth coach in five years as it fired Chris Koclanes. The Wings proceeded to go against the coaching trend of hiring from the NBA in favor of a well-respected, winning college coach in Jose Fernandez from South Florida. When free agency finally opened following a contentious 17-month long negotiation period for a new collective bargaining agreement, general manager Curt Miller signed players, such as forwards Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who looked on paper like they could make the Wings legitimate playoff contenders.
But not before drafting Buecker’s familiar backcourt UConn running mate in sharpshooter Azzi Fudd. The result of every move over the last 13 months was on full display Saturday, and the early grade passed with top marks. Bueckers finished with 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and just one turnover.