DHJ Quick Take: The Physical Engine
- Fourth-Quarter Finishing: Jose Fernandez’s focus on the final 10 minutes is a direct response to the Wings‘ 10-34 finish a year ago. By adding the strength to “absorb contact” and finish at the rim, Bueckers is eliminating the late-game fatigue and physical pushback that often stalled the Dallas offense in 2025.
- The Rim Pressure Mandate: Paige Bueckers’ goal to “live at the rim” is the most important tactical shift for the Wings. Her rookie-season efficiency (47.7%) was built on elite mid-range scoring; adding a high-volume free-throw rate turns her into an even more three-level threat that defenders have a tough time trying to “body” off her spots.
- The Unrivaled Edge: Her time in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league and USA Basketball sharpened her isolation scoring. As Fernandez noted, the “investment” in her body is what separates her as one of the best players in the world.
- Off-Ball Versatility: With Lindsay Allen and Odyssey Sims handling point guard duties, a stronger Bueckers can thrive as a “slashing” wing. This physical growth allows her to fight through off-ball screens and top-locking defenses, making the UConn-style Zoom actions even more lethal in the Wings‘ new system.
ARLINGTON, Texas — When Paige Bueckers walked onto the court at College Park Center for the start of Dallas Wings training camp Sunday, it was clear the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year had added muscle in the offseason, setting her up well for the 2026 season.
Head coach Jose Fernandez noticed the same thing and said the payoff would come when games are on the line, while crediting Bueckers’ professionalism for always trying to improve.
“I think it’s going to be great, especially late in games, in the fourth quarter. It’ll help her play through contact and finish at the rim through contact,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “There’s a reason she looks the way she does. She’s a pro. The way she invests, connects with everyone, and the offseason she’s had, it shows. She’s one of the best players in the world.”
What Paige Bueckers Wants to Emphasize in Her Game
Bueckers laid out her Year 2 on-court priorities on Day 1 of camp, and every single one of them connects directly to the strength gains she put in over the offseason. She wants to attack the rim more, live at the rim, get to the free-throw line more, and push the pace in transition.
“I want to get up more threes, get to the paint more, live at the rim more, and get to the free-throw line more,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Just getting out in transition and making plays.”
She tied those individual goals directly to team success.
“My number one goal is to be the best teammate I can be, make everyone around me better, and contribute to winning basketball for the Dallas Wings,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “We all have that mentality of sacrificing and doing whatever the team needs.”
As a rookie in 2025, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 36 appearances, shooting 47.7% from the field, 33.1% from three on 3.3 attempts per game, and 88.8% from the free-throw line. She was named Rookie of the Year and made her first WNBA All-Star team. What she wants to add in Year 2 is a bigger on-ball scoring load, more rim pressure, and more free-throw volume.
Bueckers pointed to her three-on-three work in the Unrivaled league as a direct contributor to the spacing and attacking concepts she wants to sharpen in Year 2.
“Three-on-three basketball also teaches you how to move in isolation, in space, offensively and defensively. I learned a lot about myself,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal.
The physical investment she made alongside that basketball work is the foundation for every one of those goals. After a full season in the WNBA, Bueckers gained reps against defenders who were bigger, stronger, and more physical than those she faced at UConn. Adding muscle gives her the base to absorb contact, finish through it, and force officials to make calls that generate free-throw attempts. Even in some of the marginal periods of the game, like fighting an off-ball defender trying to top-lock, or switching defensively onto a bigger player, being able to hold ground physically all adds up.
Late in games, possessions tighten, and defenses are dialed in on the Wings’ primary creators, especially Bueckers. The ability to get a shot up through contact, draw a foul, or convert an and-one in those situations is often the difference between a win and a close loss. Dallas finished 10-34 in 2025, and a meaningful portion of those losses came in late-game situations.
Jose Fernandez’s Approach to Coaching Paige Bueckers
Fernandez has been direct about how he plans to coach Bueckers from the opening day of camp, and his framing of her offseason work is consistent with the way he has described coaching her in general.
“Great players want to be told the truth,” Fernandez said on Day 1. “My job is to put her in the best situations possible, for her to be successful in the open floor, in the half court with the ball, and playing off the ball.”
Fernandez also laid out the specific shot-profile evolution he wants from Bueckers in Year 2, which aligns with the rim pressure and perimeter shooting she has prioritized for herself.
“Continue to be great in leadership. I like the way she creates for others. We know about her mid-range, but she’s going to have to stretch the floor more, take more transition threes and half-court threes,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Bueckers said the clarity of Fernandez’s approach has reinforced her ability to play with confidence.
“It gives you confidence. Everyone knows their role and what it’s going to take. If someone steps outside the culture, he holds us accountable. It helps you hold yourself accountable, too,” Bueckers said. “That clarity builds confidence across the team.”
Fernandez noted that he plans to deploy Bueckers both as a point guard and on the wing this season, with Lindsay Allen, Odyssey Sims, JJ Quinerly, and Grace Berger in competition behind her for backup point guard reps. Bueckers’ all-around skill set allows her to play with anybody, but particularly, getting stronger makes it easier for her to play on the wing if needed.
“Right now, you’ve got Paige at the point guard spot, but I plan on playing her a lot on the wing,” Fernandez said. “Then you’ve got Lindsay Allen, Odyssey Sims, JJ, and Grace. That’s what camp is about, figuring that out along with roster construction.”
The Offseason Investment
Bueckers used her WNBA offseason to find strong environments to continue working on her game. She played in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, where she said the format pushed her to find her voice as a leader and sharpened her ability to dissect the game in real time. She also returned to USA Basketball for the World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico and made an impact in a connector role on a national team roster being built for the run-up to the FIBA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Despite doing all of that, Bueckers clearly put in work in the weight room to add strength. She already felt the benefits of having a healthy offseason while competing at Unrivaled in January.
“For me, getting in the weight room this offseason and having a healthy offseason where I could grind and get better… I think it definitely helps with this Unrivaled league and just how physical it is,” Bueckers said during the Unrivaled season.
Up Next
The Wings resume training camp in Arlington on Tuesday for a third consecutive day, with a scheduled day off on Wednesday. With Dallas having 17 players in training camp and five late arrivals, the staff will need every practice day to evaluate roster cuts.
The Wings start the 2026 season against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 9, at 12 p.m. CT, before facing the Atlanta Dream at College Park Center for their home opener on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m.
More Paige Bueckers & Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
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- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 2 Interviews: Jose Fernandez, Alysha Clark, Maddy Siegrist And Odyssey Sims
- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 1 Recap: Jose Fernandez Sets Tone With ‘No-BS’ Culture
- ‘She Better Shoot The Damn Ball’: Jose Fernandez Challenges Azzi Fudd On Day 1 Of Training Camp
- ‘Landed Where I Was Meant to Be’: Azzi Fudd Introduced By Dallas Wings, Embraces New Journey
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