‘She Shows Up Every Night’: Cynthia Cooper Lauds Paige Bueckers’ Historic Rookie Season With Dallas Wings

Cynthia Cooper knows what greatness looks like. The Hall of Famer and four-time WNBA champion helped define the league’s early years as the face of the Houston Comets dynasty. Now, nearly three decades later, she sees that same professional makeup in Dallas Wings rookie guard Paige Bueckers.

On the Aug. 30 episode of We Need To Talk, Cooper praised Bueckers’ record-breaking rookie campaign and her seamless transition into the WNBA spotlight.

“I also love what Paige is doing. Paige Bueckers is just amazing, right? Yes, she just broke my record by one point, but I love to see it because I love the energy and the excitement that’s generated around what—not just women’s basketball, but around her specifically and her team, the Dallas Wings,” Cooper said. “They’re doing an amazing job there. And it’s always nice to see the young talent come in and show out right from the beginning.”

Paige Bueckers is Breaking Records

Bueckers tied Cooper’s rookie record of 44 points, originally set in 1997, when she poured in 44 against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20. She became the first player in league history to score 40 or more points while shooting at least 80 percent from the field, finishing 17-of-21 with a perfect mark from both three and the free throw line.

Cooper didn’t see it as her record falling. She saw it as a signal of what the next generation is capable of.

“You have the pressure to show what you can do on that next level, and then you make your adjustments, and then you do it right,” she said. “You bring your A-game every single night. So, that’s always great to see.”

For Cooper, the toughest test for any rookie is less about one historic performance and more about how they respond to the day-to-day grind of the WNBA season. She emphasized Bueckers’ poise and discipline as the traits that set her apart.

“Now, you can always tell who’s going to make a great pro,” Cooper said. “It’s by what they do off the court, what they do before they get to practice or the training sessions, mentally how she prepares herself. She’s never too high, never too low. She’s right there, even-keeled and just focused. She’s driven. She’s focused. And I think she’s going to have an amazing professional career.”

Proving It in Dallas

Dallas’ record shows the toll of injuries and constant lineup shuffling, but Bueckers has emerged as more than just the Wings’ top rookie. She’s become a voice of belief. After Friday’s 100-78 loss in Atlanta, she pointed to NBA superstar Stephen Curry’s early years with the Golden State Warriors as a model, recalling his famous “stick with us” message to fans before the franchise became a dynasty.

“Just to stick with it,” Bueckers told reporters. “Whoever puts on a Wings jersey that night, that’s who we believe in. We don’t need exterior belief—we believe in each other. I remember Steph Curry, before the Warriors became the Warriors, tweeted, ‘Just stick with us.’ That’s the message.”

For Cooper, who lauded Bueckers for “showing up every single night,” those words magnify what she already sees: a professional approach well beyond her years. Head coach Chris Koclanes agreed, saying Bueckers’ leadership is felt daily inside the locker room.

“Everything,” Koclanes said. “That’s genuine belief, not lip service. She pours into her teammates, believes in everyone in that locker room. It’s hard when things are tough not to crumble, but Paige and this group keep perspective. They don’t feel sorry for themselves—they maintain standards, hold each other accountable, and believe in the future.”

Bueckers continues to back it up statistically. Against Atlanta, she recorded 16 points and 10 assists—her second points-assists double-double of the season, the only rookie to accomplish that feat more than once. It’s the consistency, Cooper stressed, that reveals why Bueckers is already becoming a cornerstone for Dallas.

“The fact that Paige was able to step into the WNBA and really showcase her talent at this level for the Dallas Wings, day in and day out, every single night she shows up,” Cooper said. “That’s amazing. That shows what a professional she is and how great she can be.”

As the Wings continue their rebuilding season, Bueckers’ play has emerged as a silver lining—and as a foundation for the future. For Cooper, who helped usher women’s basketball into the professional era, Bueckers represents the latest evolution of the game.

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