Paige Bueckers hints at what to expect from her in new-look Wings offense

The Dallas Wings made sure that Paige Bueckers’s second season in the W would be very, very different from her 10-34 rookie season. They brought in a new coaching staff, drafted Azzi Fudd, and went all out in free agency, adding high-level veteran contributors.

It’s a different roster and a different offensive system that will highlight Bueckers’s ability to move on and off the ball.

“I think just the ability to move, change sides of the floor, get defensive rotation and attacking close outs, attacking in space, attacking in transition,” Bueckers said when asked which parts of the new system would benefit her most. “There’s never a dull moment or a stagnant moment. I think sometimes, you can get caught ball watching or just sitting in the corner resting, but this offense is a lot of free flowing, a lot of movement, a lot of screening, a lot of misdirection stuff. So, I think that exploits a lot in terms of my off-ball movement, coming off screens, using screeners, and also on ball as well.”

This season will be a completely different experience for Bueckers

The Wings were a mess last season. They gave up on the DiJonai Carrington-NaLyssa Smith experience about halfway through the season, Arike Ogunbowale only played 29 games, and Maddy Siegrist appeared in just 26 games.

Paige Bueckers was the team’s only consistent source of offense. She led the Wings in points per game and shot attempts, but also had to be the main playmaker.

A new offensive system and a better roster around her will lighten the offensive load on her shoulders dramatically. Ogunbowale and Siegrist will hopefully be healthy for the whole season, and new additions Azzi Fudd, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Odyssey Sims can carry their own fair share of scoring and playmaking responsibilities.

But keep in mind that Ogunbowale, Smith, Shepard, and Kuier aren’t at training camp yet. That’s three of the projected starters and a key reserve, so the Wings’ offense may not look quite as smooth as it should early in the season.

The Wings should also improve defensively

The Wings were one of the worst defensive teams in the W last season. They have all the tools to change that.

Smith was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside A’ja Wilson last year, Awak Kuier was a finalist for EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year this past season, and Azzi Fudd was a great perimeter defender in college.

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