Jose Fernandez Praises Paige Bueckers Leadership and Coachability

In a rather forgettable Dallas season last year that saw them finish 10-34 in the league, Bueckers was the only highlight of the team.

She averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 36 appearances while shooting 47.1% from the field. Although her three-point averages were below par, with 33.1% from 3.3 shots taken per game.

Apart from being named ROTY, Bueckers was also named to the WNBA All-Star team. Bueckers aims to complement her scoring by improving her overall impact on winning.

“My number one goal is to be the best teammate I can be, make everyone around me better, and contribute to winning basketball with the Dallas Wings,” Bueckers told the Dallas Hoops Journal.

Beyond her mental approach, Bueckers focused on physical conditioning to handle the WNBA’s increased physicality.

Paige Bueckers Focuses on Physical Conditioning

Despite staying busy with Unrivaled and the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Bueckers managed to bulk up this offseason to help her stay durable during the busy summer.

“For me, getting in the weight room this offseason and having a healthy offseason where I could grind and get better. I think it definitely helps with this Unrivaled league and just how physical it is,” Bueckers said.

Her latest look also caught the attention of Jose Fernandez, who believes her efforts in the weight room will come to fruition in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter each game.

Similar to Bueckers, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark also turned quite a few heads last summer as she showed off a noticeably more muscular physique during the offseason.

The Indiana Fever will host the Dallas Wings on the opening night of the WNBA season on May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Bueckers continues her rivalry with Clark.

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