Doubts Emerge Over Paige Bueckers Weight Claim

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 9, 2026 9:05 PM ET

There's no denying that Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is a rock-solid athlete. She averaged nearly 20 points a game as a rookie and picked up numerous accolades in the process.

But a claim about Bueckers' playing weight and offseason muscle gains is starting to gain traction that fans are really having a hard time wrapping their heads around.

During today's broadcast of the Wings vs. Indiana Fever game, ESPN's Holly Rowe reported that Bueckers has added 15 pounds of muscle and now plays at 160 pounds - up from last year's mark of 145 pounds at the end of last year.

Fans shared that claim on X and immediately started questioning whether that was true - or even physically possible.

Holly Rowe said on the broadcast that Paige Bueckers added 15 pounds of muscle since the end of last season.

Bueckers is now at 160 pounds now, compared to 145 pounds last year.
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 9, 2026

The ESPN commentators just said that Paige Buekners went from 140-160 pounds in 6 months and 15 pounds of that is muscle mass gain…. That is not even in the realm of reality.
— piercheney (@LVpolitic) May 9, 2026

True or False?

Fans were willing to concede that while Bueckers did look noticeably bigger on the court in her first WNBA start since last season, claiming to have gained 15 pounds - let alone 15 pounds of mostly muscle - strained credulity for most.

"Looking at Bueckers and that clearly isn't true. 15lbs of muscle gain on a woman especially would be very noticeable," one user on X remarked.

"Strictly speaking, that's probably not impossible. However, gaining that much muscle at that weight, while maintaining the cardio to play professional basketball would be tough for a guy. If she really did it she almost certainly sacrificed some other aspects of her athleticism," another pointed out.

"You would see a NOTICEABLE difference in 20 pounds of muscle. This is cap by ESPN. Paige is still a twig," a third said dismissively.

"On the right stack of 'roids its possible lol. I don't think Paige is juicing though."

"And, she has zero muscle tone."

May 29, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) warms up prior to a game against the Chicago Sky at the Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images© Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

It's far from the end of the world if Bueckers is a few pounds off of her listed weight. Her season debut was as solid as you could ask of her - 20 points in 33 minutes plus three rebounds, four assists and a steal in a 107-104 win.

Given that the Wings had just one win in their first 12 games last season, that's as good as they could have asked for.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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