Dallas Wings coach on using Caitlin Clark treatment to ‘save’ Paige Bueckers’ legs

Paige Bueckers’ plan echoes Caitlin Clark debate

As a fan shared on X, Jose Fernandez praised Paige Bueckers after her 20-point performance but made it clear the Dallas Wings are already thinking about how to protect her energy late in games.

“I thought she did well. She scored 20 points and did a very good job defensively. For me, I want to save Paige’s legs down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The more I can play her off the ball,” Fernandez said.

That line is the key. Fernandez was not criticizing Bueckers as a point guard; he was explaining why Dallas cannot ask her to absorb every possession from 94 feet away.

It is the same tension Indiana has faced with Clark. Fans want the ball in their star’s hands, but coaches also have to think about how much punishment comes with that responsibility.

For Bueckers, playing off the ball can create cleaner catches, easier scoring windows, and more energy when the fourth quarter arrives.

Paige Bueckers’ pressure shows why the Dallas Wings adjusted

Fernandez then explained the defensive treatment Dallas expects Bueckers to see, and it sounded familiar to anyone who watched how teams tried to wear down Clark.

“We know she is going to get trapped at the point guard spot in so many pick-and-roll situations. And also, when she is at the point guard spot, as other teams do, they pick her up 94 feet and try to wear her out for 60 of it,” he continued.

The Wings coach concluded, “For now, that’s what our lineup is, and that’s what I’m going to go with.”

That is the practical side of the decision. Bueckers is already important enough that defenses are trying to drain her before she can dictate the game.

The Caitlin Clark comparison makes this more interesting because the Fever have faced sharp reactions whenever her workload or off-ball usage becomes a topic. Some fans see it as protection, while others see it as limiting the player who should control the offense.

Dallas appears willing to accept that debate early. Fernandez’s message was simple: Bueckers can still be central without being the full-time target of every defensive possession.