Paige Bueckers Gets Honest About WNBA 'Expectations'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 2:52 PM ET

After being one of the most accomplished players in college basketball history, UConn legend Paige Bueckers was an easy choice for the Dallas Wings. Fast forward to today, and she's shown why she was worthy of being the No. 1 pick.

Bueckers is averaging 19.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 three-pointers per game as a rookie. However, while she's clearly living the dream, she didn't really know what to expect. In an exclusive interview, she opened up about the ups and downs of her rookie season.

Paige Bueckers is Grateful Despite Wings' Struggles

"'Expectations’ is a funny word for me because I try not to have any, truly, and live every day for itself,” Bueckers told PEOPLE. “And so I’m just trying to work to be the best version of myself every single day and embrace what's happening.”

Of course, her strong play hasn't translated to team success. Her team is sitting on a league-worst 9-34 record, and for someone so used to dominating, it can be frustrating. Even so, she's grateful for the opportunity:

“I think what I've learned is, like, a state of unconditional gratitude, regardless of circumstances,” she admitted.

Bueckers Says She's a Perfectionist

Bueckers set a new record for the most points scored by a rookie (44) in WNBA history. Still, she knows she's still got a long way to go to be not only one of the faces of the league but, more importantly, her best version:

“I think I'm a perfectionist,” Bueckers said. “And perfection is impossible to attain, so I feel like there's always something to get better at.”

Bueckers is the ultimate film and gym rat. Just like coach Geno Auriemma taught her during her days in college, there are no shortcuts to greatness:

“Throughout this whole entire year, the improvements, just the level of comfort that I have, from watching film, from getting reps, from learning and growing through repetition, you can just see the growth throughout one year,” she added.

The Wings found a special talent, and while it might be a long time before they become a contender, Bueckers has proven to be the type of player all teams would want to build their roster around.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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