Welcome to the W, Paige Bueckers. Friday Night, before a crowd of over 7000 and against 2-time champions, Las Vegas Aces, the 2025 No.1 finally made her debut, albeit in a pre-season game. But it wasn’t all smooth sail. The Wings fell 112-78 in a blowout that served a little bit of everything. But despite the lopsided loss and the whirlwind of attention that’s trailed her since draft night, the former UConn star didn’t flinch.

When the inevitable comparisons to Caitlin Clark came flying in postgame, Bueckers met them with the same poise that made her a legend in Storrs. “No expectations,” she said flatly when asked about the outside noise and the constant juxtaposition to last year’s No. 1 pick. “That comes from outside sources. I’m just building with the team here, trying to get better every day. Expectations are a narrative the media creates. I’m not letting outside sources in.”

No hedging. No pretending she doesn’t hear the chatter. Just Bueckers, staying locked in on her own path. Well, it’s easy to see why those comparisons come so fast and loud. Both were NCAA phenoms. Both were household names before they ever suited up in the W.

Clark’s rookie season with the Fever lit the league on fire—record-breaking assists, an All-WNBA First Team selection, and a rocket boost to viewership and attendance. So naturally, all eyes have now shifted to Bueckers to see if she can do the same.

But Paige? She’s not here to chase someone else’s shadow.

“I’m just trying to win the day,” she said. “You set a ceiling for yourself when you live in other people’s expectations. I’m just here to work and grow with this team.” That’s the edge Caitlin Clark talked about on Diana Taursi and Sue Bird show during the March Madness. Speaking of the UConn point guard’s poise and maturity, the 2024 ROTY would commend Paige for always maintaining composure. “I think that’s one of the greatest things about her game… nothing ever seems to faze her. And she’s just always the same constant leader.”

In her first taste of the league, Bueckers showed flashes of why Dallas made her the top pick. She poured in 10 points in 23 minutes on 4-of-7 shooting, including a pair of deep threes that looked like vintage UConn. But it wasn’t perfect.

There were fouls, a few arguments with the refs, a first loss, and a glaring difference between Clark’s 21-point performance last year to her 10. However, it wouldn’t be a smooth start for Clark either. In her debut game, she went on to commit 10 turnover, setting a franchise record for the Fever. It was a rough transition– a championship game in April to 1st pro in weeks later. Ring a bell? Yes, they share commonality despite all the comparisons.

Paige Bueckers’ statline may not have been perfect, but it’s not too shabby, especially considering it came just five days into her first training camp and not even a month after she had lifted the NCAA trophy. “Honestly, there was not a lot of time to prepare,” she admitted. And yet, the performance felt like more than just a stat line — it was a quiet nod to her readiness, even in the chaos of transition.

Because here’s the thing: Paige isn’t the only one learning.

The Dallas Wings have a huge role to play in Paige Bueckers’ low performance

The Dallas Wings, the team she now calls home, are deep in the throes of a full rebuild. Remember their last season? It was quite rough as the team had the second-worst record in the league at 9–31. It all came down as injuries didn’t help, with key players like Satou Sabally sidelined for stretches. But that wasn’t the only issue.

Cohesion? Off. Execution? Shaky. The result? Head coach Latricia Trammell was let go after the season, and in came Chris Koclanes — a fresh face with a clean slate and a new direction in mind. Since then, he’s been piecing together a completely reworked roster. In fact, only three players from last year’s team are returning. That means nearly everyone, Bueckers included, is figuring things out on the Wings.

“You try to prepare and teach and put her in positions to be able to find success, and then you have to let her go and let her live and experience it. It’s a balance just figuring out what that ultimately looks like,” said Koclanes.

And it makes sense. This isn’t just a learning curve for Paige or the other rookies, it’s a new chapter for everyone. Even for HC, as he too is stepping into his first season as a WNBA head coach. That’s why, before the preseason game, he admitted it would be a “feeling-out process” across the board as new players adjusted to each other.

That’s where Paige’s poise really stands out. She’ll need to grasp new concepts, adapt to different terminology, and find chemistry with teammates she barely knows. But nothing about her presence suggests panic. She’s taking it all in stride.

“I’m excited to be back playing basketball again, learning new routines, traditions, teammates… everything,” she said.

And that’s what this season is really about for the Wings — growth. Step by step. It won’t be instant, and it probably won’t be pretty at times, but it’s progress that counts. That calm you see in Bueckers? It’s not just confidence. It’s clarity.