‘This Has Truly Become Her Team’: Curt Miller Details Paige Bueckers’ Sophomore Leap For Dallas Wings

ARLINGTON, Texas — Video circulated over the weekend of Paige Bueckers working out with Kevin Durant in Chicago during All-Star Weekend. Curt Miller was asked about it Monday.

“To give you some perspective, I was probably still in bed in Portland while Paige had already taken a red-eye flight after our game, gotten to Chicago, and was already back in the gym,” the Dallas Wings general manager said Monday at practice.

Dallas closed the pre-All-Star schedule Wednesday at the Portland Fire. Bueckers started her second consecutive All-Star Game two nights later at United Center.

“It’s really impressive how much work our players put in behind the scenes,” Miller said. “Sometimes those workouts become public, like this one did, but most of the time nobody ever sees them.”

A Stronger Fourth Quarter

Bueckers’ averages lead the Wings at 20.9 points and 6.2 assists. She has played 25 games and averaged 33.6 minutes. She shoots 51.3% from the field, 39.7% from three, and 85.7% at the free-throw line. Dallas won six straight in July. Over that stretch, she averaged 23.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. She shot 53% from the field and 93.3% from the line. She’s only gotten better as the season has gone on.

Miller praised the work Bueckers put in during the offseason for her to reach this level, singling out how she came back stronger and how it’s helped her deliver late-game heroics. She’s remained highly effective while playing more minutes. She has averaged 6.7 points per game in the fourth quarter, shooting 61.1% overall and 46.7% from deep.

“It really started during the offseason with an intentional focus on both her physical and mental development,” he said. “She came back stronger, and that’s helped her play more minutes and be more effective. She’s a different player in fourth quarters than she was as a rookie, and that’s a credit to the work she put in.”

Dallas is 18-9 and ranks fifth in the WNBA in net rating at plus-5.1.

Bueckers did not play in the July 20 overtime loss to the New York Liberty. The 99-98 result ended the winning streak. Arike Ogunbowale scored 29 points on 9-of-24 shooting.

The Voice

Bueckers is in her second WNBA season. She started the All-Star Game for the second year in a row. The Wings have seen her grow as a leader in all facets throughout the early portion of her career.

“She’s also continued to grow as a leader,” Bueckers said. “Her voice has become stronger — not just during games, but in practice, in the locker room and away from the court.”

“This has truly become her team,” Miller added. “She’s a generational talent, and we’re very fortunate to have her.”

Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Dallas signed Jessica Shepard in free agency this offseason. Ogunbowale re-signed on a seven-figure, multi-year deal. Azzi Fudd arrived in the draft.

What’s Next

Dallas plays six games in the first 12 days after the break. Eight of the Wings’ first 10 games in the second half come against teams currently in playoff position. The first is Wednesday, July 29, against the Atlanta Dream at 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center.