DHJ Quick Take: The Paige Bueckers Era is Here
- The Ultimate Endorsement: Being voted the #1 player to build a franchise around by WNBA GMs—beating out a four-time MVP in A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark—is the definitive “passing of the torch” moment. It proves that the basketball world views Bueckers’ high-IQ, low-turnover game as the most sustainable blueprint for winning.
- The “General” in the Front Office: Paige’s admission that she was “blowing up phones” during the offseason highlights her role as a player-recruiter. Her chemistry with Azzi Fudd and Jessica Shepard isn’t just a coincidence; it’s a roster intentionally constructed by its superstar leader.
- Mastery of the Game: Jose Fernandez’s “matter-of-fact” assessment of her nine-assist, zero-turnover preseason performance says it all. While the league is in awe, the Wings’ coaching staff has already come to terms with the fact that they are working with one of the most efficient floor generals on the planet.
- Most Improved & Most Fun: The GM survey didn’t just stop at Paige. Voting the Wings as the “Most Improved” and “Most Fun to Watch” validates the massive overhaul the organization underwent this spring. It shifts the national narrative from a rebuilding team to a “must-watch” contender.
- The ABC Spotlight: Saturday’s opener in Indianapolis is no longer just a rivalry game; it’s a matchup between the top two players GMs would start a team with. With the league’s eyes on ABC, Paige has the immediate opportunity to justify the GMs’ faith against the Fever.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is also the player WNBA general managers would most want to build a team around. Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings received 33 percent of the vote in the 2026 WNBA GM Survey released Tuesday by the league, edging out the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, who tied for second at 20 percent each.
The annual survey, now in its 21st year, polled all 15 general managers on 42 questions covering the league’s best players, coaches, teams, and offseason moves. GMs were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel.
Paige Bueckers Reacts to the Recognition
Asked about the GM vote during her media availability, Bueckers framed the result as a credit to the basketball minds who voted rather than a statement about herself.
“It’s really cool just to have that mutual respect amongst people who live in this area or live in this space and who really understand the game,” Bueckers said. “And there’s so many amazing basketball players to choose from. I feel like there’s so many people I would choose to start my team with, so for them to think that highly of me, I’m very grateful, very blessed.”
Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, captured Rookie of the Year honors last season and finished ahead of two of the league’s most decorated players. Wilson is coming off her record fourth WNBA MVP Award and led the Las Vegas Aces to their third championship in four years. Clark is regarded by GMs as the second-best point guard in the league behind Las Vegas’ Chelsea Gray.
Jose Fernandez on Paige Bueckers as the Floor Leader
First-year head coach Jose Fernandez offered a more matter-of-fact assessment of what Bueckers brought to the Wings’ two preseason games, in which she totaled nine assists and zero turnovers in her last outing.
“You probably look at Paige getting out to nine assists and zero turnovers, but you just expect her to do that, because she’s just one of the best players on the planet,” Fernandez said.
A Recruiter as Well as a Player
Bueckers acknowledged that her involvement in the Wings’ offseason went beyond what shows up in box scores. The franchise added No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd, signed 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith to a three-year maximum contract, and brought in veteran forward Jessica Shepard, all in a span of weeks.
“I was probably blowing their phone up a little bit more than they would’ve liked, but just to stay in constant communication,” Bueckers said of her recruiting role. “Talk to them at Unrivaled, talk to them through USA Basketball and competing there. But definitely was heavy on the communication side.”
Dallas was also voted the most improved team and the most fun-to-watch team in the same survey. The 2026 result puts Bueckers in rarified air as a building block GMs would prioritize over established MVPs.
Up Next
The Wings open the 2026 regular season Saturday at 12 p.m. CT against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on ABC.
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