Paige Bueckers Delivers 11-Word Reaction to Cathy Engelbert’s Rookie of the Year Surprise

But as she got the hold, her skills didn’t match her age. By the end of the season, she led all the rookies in points with her 19.2 average and 5.4 assists. She’s also second in 1.58 steals while seventh with her 3.9 rebounds per game. Not just that, she’s the only player in the WNBA to finish in the top nine in scoring, steals, and assists among all players.

But honestly, she deserved the ROTY title too. In just two months of transitioning to the WNBA, she posted the highest single-game scoring performance ever by a rookie with her 44-point outing at LA on August 20th. Her 30-game double-digit scoring streak to start her career is the third longest in WNBA history, behind A’ja Wilson and Candace Parker.

But do you know what makes her efforts more in the spotlight? It’s that PB did all this while her team sailed through adversities. The team she’s been with ended their regular-season run with the league’s worst 10–34 record. So, this is how PB proved her worth to the WNBA. Though she hasn’t done it alone!

The Dallas Wings had fueled PB’s rise.

Before PB was named ROTY, it was her head coach, Chris Koclanes, who crowned her as one. Well, that’s because the coach had witnessed PB’s growth firsthand. So, when asked about how she sees her Rookie of the Year award, she didn’t hold back. She said, “Just like a whole lot of hard work and a whole lot of faith went into that. And it takes a village. I’ve always felt like individual accomplishments are really team acknowledgments. So to everybody around me who’s helped me get to this point, I feel like it’s a testament to them.”

And yes, it all makes sense, especially since her team has always backed her up. They’ve stood beside her when she got injured and tried to serve the level she’s used to. At first, it was Ogunbowale who provided leadership and mentorship that helped PB transition to the pros.

Then it was former Dallas Wings star DiJonai Carrington, whose defensive prowess and versatility complemented PB’s offensive skills, allowing dynamic plays and strategic rotations. But it wasn’t just two of them—the entire coaching staff and players appreciated PB whenever needed.

And PB, in return, took leadership for the locker room too. Every time players needed acknowledgment or motivation, she was there for them. So, yes, that’s how the year unfolded for the Wings and Paige Bueckers. But while the season ended amid criticism for the low ranking, the team’s got next year. So, what do you think will happen?