Sophie Cunningham Had Strong Words About Paige Bueckers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 6:48 PM ET

Paige Bueckers may be in her rookie season, but she’s already turning heads across the WNBA not just for her game, but for the kind of person she is off the court. The Rookie of the Year favorite has been dazzling fans with her smooth playing style, but according to Sophie Cunningham, there’s more to Bueckers than her stat lines.

On the second episode of her "Show Me Something" podcast with co-host West Wilson, Cunningham had some strong words of praise, highlighting what truly sets Bueckers apart.

“I just love her vibe and her energy," Cunningham said. "I just think she is a good frickin human. She is a great teammate, and she is a phenomenal leader. I am all for that. She is probably going to get rookie of the year, as she should.”

She went on to add that Bueckers has adapted quickly to life in the WNBA. Not only has she improved her game significantly, but the Dallas Wings star has also taken on the role of a leader on her team naturally, which according to Cunningham is a sign of good things to come.

Paige Bueckers Keeps the Awards Rolling in

Bueckers just keeps adding to her rookie resume. On Monday, the Wings guard was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for July, making it back-to-back after she also won the award for June.

The No. 1 overall pick has been nothing short of spectacular, leading all rookies in scoring (18.2), assists (5.2), and steals (1.8) for the month. She’s the only player in the league to rank top 10 in all three categories for both July and the season.

In just 23 games, she’s racked up more than 400 points and 100 assists, tying Cynthia Cooper as the fastest in WNBA history to hit that mark. With 12 20-point games and consistent double-digit scoring, Bueckers has solidified herself as the Rookie of the Year favorite while climbing franchise leaderboards.

Now, she’s gearing up for back-to-back games against the Liberty, starting with Tuesday's matchup at 7 p.m. ET at Barclays Center on NBATV.

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

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