Paige Bueckers was the first overall pick in Monday night's WNBA Draft, a fact that has many Dallas Wings fans (and players) ecstatic. Bueckers is expected to join a starting five that includes Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, and Teira McCowan.
Bueckers has generated a lot of positive energy and publicity throughout her collegiate career. Ahead of the draft, several WNBA GMs spoke about the former UConn star and what she can bring to the Wings and to the league as a whole... and based on what they've said, there is a lot to look forward to.
Paige Bueckers will be "dangerous" for the WNBA
One GM who remained anonymous told ESPN they expect Bueckers to have an immediate and "dangerous" (in a good way!) impact on the WNBA. Bueckers is capable of elevating not only herself but those around her, something she's already proven on and off the court. In fact, if Geno Auriemma had one consistent complaint about Bueckers, it was that she needed to be more selfish as a player — but she just wants everyone around her to win, too.
A second GM gave a lot of credit to UConn and Auriemma for developing Bueckers. "She understands the game. Her IQ is very high. She comes from a winning program, and all that stuff translates when you have multiple tools like she does," they told ESPN. Bueckers has a lot of skills, they added, and those will translate well.
Paige Bueckers doesn't have to be Caitlin Clark
Another boon for Bueckers is that she doesn't have to be Caitlin Clark — she gets to just be herself. "She's not Caitlin Clark, she's built differently, but she can make people better, and she's hypercompetitive and she can get to her spots at the same time," that second GM also said.
In fact, it will serve Wings fans well if they can resist the urge to compare and contrast the two young women. While Bueckers will likely have an immediate impact on the Wings in terms of selling out stadiums and getting fans at games, fans shouldn't expect Bueckers to come in and break a lot of records like Clark did — Clark's experience is not the norm for most WNBA rookies, including other number one picks.
Paige Bueckers might be an All-Star this year
Though comparisons to any other WNBA player won't help Bueckers much, there is one area where she can definitely succeed — as a GM told ESPN, if Bueckers can stay injury-free, she has a strong chance of being named a WNBA All-Star this season, and even being named MVP down the road.
But there's one thing Bueckers needs to do to make that happen, and it's something Auriemma would agree with: get selfish and care a little bit more about her personal success. From there, the sky's the limit.