“I Want to Be Better”: Dallas Wings Want to Help Paige Bueckers More Against Blitzes

The Dallas Wings have been trying to strike the right balance regarding Paige Bueckers. The rookie guard can deliver big performances—like her 23-point, five-assist outing in Thursday’s 98-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury—but as head coach Chris Koclanes noted, taking pressure off her is as important as empowering her.

Dallas has continued to install different layers into its offense now that it has size in the frontcourt to set quality screens. Whether Bueckers is receiving a corner pin-in, setting a ram screen to get the ball up top, being used as an off-ball screener in Zoom action, or simply spacing out and making a quick play off-the-catch either against a contest or on a re-drive, the Wings have leaned on getting her into space. Oftentimes, that work begins before the catch, but when she’s initiating, the team is still focused on fine-tuning.

“We’re continuing to help her,” Koclanes said. “She’s a great screener, so we’re using her that way, getting her into space and on the move. Sometimes, the best thing is to stay away from the ball screen to avoid bringing more defenders to her. It’s also about helping with coverage solutions—the shapes we use, the actions before the ball screen that can distort the defense. She’s getting more comfortable reading those. I think all five players are improving the more we see it.”

Bueckers has played 14 games this season, averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 35.4 minutes per game. She is shooting 47.5% from the field, 34.8% from three, and 86.7% from the free throw line. But the Wings are trying to ensure she doesn’t face an outsized burden.

With a full frontcourt rotation, including Li Yueru, Luisa Geiselsöder, Teaira McCowan, and Myisha Hines-Allen, the Wings have options to serve as relief for Bueckers when drawing blitzes or facing a hedge-and-recover approach. The staff has emphasized adaptability, whether spacing the floor, initiating from the elbow, or making reads off short rolls.

“With who we’re starting now — Luisa and Li — both are capable poppers and can hit that 17‑footer in the short roll,” Koclanes said. “They’ve got gravity and confidence in those shots. Myisha is more of a pocket playmaker — she can catch and attack downhill. And Teaira, even though she’s more of a long roll option, has more touch and handle than people realize.”

Geiselsöder has emerged as one of the Wings’ most vocal interior presences, particularly when organizing spacing and reads against defensive pressure. With opponents increasingly sending traps at Bueckers to disrupt her rhythm, Geiselsöder emphasized the importance of collective movement and structure—especially from the frontcourt—to create easier playmaking outlets.

“It’s our role as a team. If they’re trapping her, that means someone’s open. We have to use that advantage—start the rotations and give her good passing angles,” Geiselsöder said. “Right now, we’re making it kind of hard for her, and she’s having to really search for us. If we fix that, she’s going to have easy dimes all day.”

Bueckers is glad to have Geiselsöder back in the mix and believes the overall size of her frontcourt will make her job simpler against blitzes. It remains a work in progress, but regardless, the personnel in place have the potential to make defenses pay at a high level.

“Having that size and having Lu back as a playmaker out of the pick-and-roll helps a lot,” Bueckers said. “Whether it’s the short roll or just giving me a better target, it makes everything easier.”

Bueckers’ fellow rookie guards, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly, have grown into larger roles to help ease the creative responsibility. In Thursday’s win, James had a career night with 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Quinerly added 17 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, playing with pace and control.

James sees her development as part of the team effort, which can reduce some of the pressure Bueckers faces throughout games. James and Quinerly continue to get more comfortable with decision-making in pick-and-roll to score and create favorable shots for the roller or shooters.

“Even though I had a good game, there are still little things I can work on,” James said. “Just dictating more, still navigating through screens—there’s always things to improve on. Just being more patient. Just seeing what the actions are and taking control of them.”

Quinerly added: “Everybody has to stay calm and get to spots where Paige can see us. That’s how we keep the ball moving.”

Bueckers herself acknowledged that the bar she’s set only raises her internal expectations. While she’s delivered in big moments, she’s also kept a critical eye on her game.

“I want to be better,” Bueckers said. “I watch film, and I can see places where I should’ve made a better read or slowed down. I want to play every game at a high level.”

The Wings will face the Mercury again on Monday in Phoenix. The short turnaround offers an immediate opportunity to implement these lessons, which Koclanes sees as a test of maturity and poise.

“The scout is fresh. We know how we had success, what to keep doing, and what small adjustments we need to make—and we can make them immediately,” he said. “The key is anticipating how the opponent will adjust now that they’ve played 40 minutes against us. It’s fun. It’s like the playoffs—subtle changes from game to game. I enjoy that aspect.”

With the Wings winning five of their last seven games and a growing understanding of how to protect their franchise guard while still unleashing her talent, the pieces may finally be falling into place.

“We’re finding our identity,” Koclanes said. “It’s taken a lot, but we’re getting there.”

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