Paige Bueckers entered the WNBA with sky-high expectations, and in many ways, she has delivered beyond them. Paige Bueckers broke Caitlin Clark’s WNBA record, setting yet another record of her own. Caitlin Clark faced another challenge, but without the help of

Paige Bueckers entered the WNBA with enormous expectations, and in many ways, she has exceeded them.

The Dallas Wings rookie quickly made her mark, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points and 100 assists—achieving it in just 22 games. That feat placed her among elite company, tying Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper and surpassing Caitlin Clark’s pace from just one season prior.

Her dominance peaked in a stunning performance against the Los Angeles Sparks. In a do-or-die matchup, Bueckers scored 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting, an incredible 81% from the field. She became the first player in league history to score 40+ points while shooting better than 80%. She didn’t just make a statement—she cemented her arrival.

Yet, as often happens in sports, exceptional play draws heightened attention. After that performance, Bueckers’ production dipped. She scored only 11 points in a loss to Seattle, and her streak of double-digit games ended shortly after. Wings head coach Chris Koclanes addressed the slump with composure: “We’ve got to learn from it and continue to grow.”

Analyst Robin Lundberg highlighted a notable shift—defenses have begun treating Bueckers much like they treated Caitlin Clark.

“It feels like WNBA defenses have taken guarding her personally,” he said, pointing to the more intense coverage and frequent double-teams. Nneka Ogwumike confirmed that all five Seattle defenders were focused on stopping her, a level of attention usually reserved for established superstars.

The Caitlin Clark Comparison

The difference between Bueckers and Clark isn’t just style—it’s support. Clark had teammates like Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and NaLyssa Smith sharing the scoring load during her rookie season. That balance prevented defenses from overcommitting without risk.

Bueckers doesn’t have that luxury. She leads Dallas with 19.0 points per game, and beyond her, only Maddy Siegrist consistently contributes, averaging 12.1 points. Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings’ usual go-to scorer, has been sidelined.

Outside of them, Dallas has only two other players averaging double figures, one being rookie Amy Okonkwo, who reached it mostly through a couple of breakout games.

The result is clear: defenses know the strategy—shut down Bueckers, and Dallas struggles offensively. While Clark had teammates to punish double-teams, Bueckers is often left isolated. She has proven she belongs among the league’s best, but without more support, her brilliance alone may not be enough to carry the Wings.