As the 2025 WNBA season gets underway, one player many have their eyes on is Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers. Through the early stages in her professional career, the No. 1 pick has already landed herself in some impressive company.
Bueckers and the Dallas Wings saw themselves in action twice during opening weekend. Although they sit at 0-2, they should feel good about their new guard.
In her WNBA debut, Bueckers notched 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Her second game was the more notable showing, as her all-around impact was on full display. Across 37 minutes against the Seattle Storm, Buckers posted a stat line of 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
With these pair of outings, Bueckers has put her name alongside a pair of high-level talents. She became just the third rookie in league history to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in their first two games. The others to do so are New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu and Candace Parker.
Coming off an impressive run in college, Bueckers is a prospect with big expectations upon entering the pros. Similar to Caitlin Clark last year, many believed she has the potential to be an impactful player from day one.
Seeing the company she's played herself into, Bueckers is meeting the expectations of a top pick. Growing pains are to be expected, but based on her showing against the Storm, she is adjusting nicely.
With the anticipation of her first games behind her, Bueckers can now focus on building off her strong play. It did not take long for her to display her ability to impact the game in multiple ways like she did at UConn. As the focal point of the Wings' roster, they're going to continue to showcase her in hopes of emerging as a leader for the group.
Following up Clark's historic rookie campaign will be no small feat, but Bueckers seems ready to make a strong impact of her own in 2025.
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Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White had some rather bold comments about Caitlin Clark’s lingering injury on Sunday. Clark missed her seventh consecutive game Sunday with a groin injury, but Indiana still won by beating the Seattle Storm 78-74. After losing their first two games without Clark, the Fever have now won five in a row. White thinks that is not a coincidence. She suggested that Clark’s absence has forced other players to step up and grow more confident. “I said it early when C was out the first time: while we don’t like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise, because everybody else finds themselves, and no one is afraid to make the big play,” White said. It remains unclear when Clark will return to action, but the Fever have clearly learned how to succeed without her. In theory, that should make them even more formidable once she does return. The Fever certainly do not think they are better off without Clark. Her teammates remain adamantly behind her even as she sits out. The big question now is how good the team can be once she’s back.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.
In need of some additional tight end depth, the Vikings have signed journeyman veteran Nick Vannett, the team announced on Monday afternoon. Reserve offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson was waived to make room on the 90-man roster. Vannett, 32, has played for seven teams in a nine-year NFL career since being drafted by the Seahawks out of Ohio State in the third round back in 2016. Since being traded by Seattle in 2019, Vannett has played for the Steelers, Broncos, Saints, Giants, Chargers, and Titans. Last season, with Tennessee, Vannett tied his career high with three receiving touchdowns. The Vikings needed more depth at the TE position for a couple reasons. Starter T.J. Hockenson appeared to get banged up at Saturday's practice and was seen favoring his groin. It's not believed to be a serious issue, but it could cost Hockenson some practice time. Additionally, rookie sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew has missed basically the entire offseason with a back injury and doesn't seem to be close to returning. Vannett is more than a camp body; he's a guy who now seems like a strong candidate to make the initial 53-man roster. He's played over 2,700 offensive snaps in his career and over 800 on special teams. More of a blocking tight end than a receiver, Vannett does have 108 career receptions for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns. The Ohio native is listed at 6'5" and 257 pounds. Here's what the Vikings' TE depth chart might now look like: T.J. Hockenson (injured?) Josh Oliver Nick Vannett Ben Yurosek (rookie) Gavin Bartholomew (PUP list) Giovanni Ricci Bryson Nesbit More Vikings coverage
A five-year deal completed nearly a year ago is still shaping the way NBA teams and agents are approaching restricted free agency. According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, the contract that Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley signed last July has become a major sticking point. The deal, which includes $162.5 million in guaranteed money and another $12.5 million in incentives, averages $32.5 million per season and could reach $35 million annually. “The Immanuel Quickley contract has totally screwed up restricted free agency,” Marks said during an appearance on ESPN’s YouTube channel. “Because that’s where agents are looking at like the benchmark. Certainly, [Bulls guard] Josh Giddey’s like, ‘I want that contract.’ That number has screwed up a lot of things.” Marks said agents are citing Quickley’s deal in negotiations for other young guards with similar production and upside, but teams haven’t been willing to match the price tag. “I don’t think Toronto got enough heat for that number,” he added. “Because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32, $33 million guy.” Clarkson Still a Wild Card for Knicks The Knicks are hoping Jordan Clarkson provides a spark off the bench, but there is uncertainty about what exactly he brings at this stage of his career. As one Western Conference scout told The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Clarkson hasn’t played meaningful basketball in quite a while and remains a bit of a mystery heading into the 2025–26 season. Still, one Knicks source believes the veteran scorer is “exactly what we needed,” and sees him as a strong fit off the bench. A veteran coach who spoke with Bondy sees upside but also concerns. “High-level shooter. Good going right,” the coach said. “Wild-card-type player. Throw him out there and see if he can get hot. But there’s not much else from a production standpoint. And it’s ugly on defense.” Maxey Gives Back in Philly Tyrese Maxey continues to make an impact beyond the court. The 76ers guard hosted a free youth basketball camp over the weekend and donated $60,000 through his foundation, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. Maxey’s community efforts have become a regular part of his offseason work in the Philadelphia area. More NBA News Rumors