Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes didn’t sugarcoat it after a rough night. His team is struggling to find consistency, and rookie Paige Bueckers has been caught in the middle of it.
“It’s just been lots of inconsistencies with our roster, right? Who is available… Just been a lot of different plug‑and‑play. Who is it tonight? With all that being said, still confident in this group.” – Chris Koclanes
Koclanes dragged concerns into the open: with key vets like Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington sidelined, the Wings have relied heavily on Paige Bueckers, who’s clocking nearly 35 minutes a game.
That workload showed. In the 87–76 loss to the Chicago Sky, Bueckers shot 5‑for‑20, finished with 17 points and four assists, and missed four 3-point attempts. The lack of rhythm was evident, and so was the team’s frustration.
Veteran teammates have noticed the instability too. Two Wings players recently described the locker room vibe as unsettled, struggling to handle the “plug‑and‑play” mentality which often leaves Paige Bueckers in shifting roles night after night.
Koclanes acknowledged that experience comes from adversity, but Paige Bueckers shouldn’t have to bear too much of the load. Depth is the missing piece. As the coach pointed out, once Ogunbowale, Carrington, and Maddy Siegrist return, the lineup should stabilize and give Bueckers a chance to shine within structure.
For now, Dallas remains in survival mode. But Koclanes believes Paige Bueckers and the Wings will grow stronger through this test, if they can get the bodies back and find cohesion.
Paige Bueckers Leaning on Process as Roster Swings Take Toll
Dallas’ young gun Paige Bueckers is juggling rookie growing pains amid an ever-changing Wings lineup. Head coach Chris Koclanes admitted recent consistency issues, but Paige Bueckers is staying grounded by embracing the daily process.
“It’s challenging, but very rewarding, in a sense of you just being super process-oriented and not result-oriented.” – Paige Bueckers on navigating the season
Paige Bueckers is taking a much longer detour back to her top form. The shuffling rotation made it doubly hard for her to recalibrate.The lineup has seen players like DiJonai Carrington and Arike Ogunbowale come in and out, which has made it difficult for Bueckers to settle into a consistent role. Good thing for them that it didn’t stop her from moving numbers in each game. She’s currently putting up 17.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.1 steals.
The adjustment period is expected, particularly for rookies. Sue Bird herself has pointed out that young players often go through stretches where nothing feels steady, and that’s just part of making the jump.
But Bueckers isn’t focused on any of that. She’s zeroed in on helping Dallas grow into a more connected unit. Her goal is to build something more solid over time. With how committed she’s been to the day-to-day, it’s only a matter of time before the chemistry catches up to her level of play.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
