Paige Bueckers looks stronger this season. That's because the Dallas Wings star has gained "like 18 pounds."
During an interview with Alexa Philippou of ESPN, Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers said she's gained "like 18 pounds."
Bueckers recently said she added 15 pounds of muscle, but that number came from some creative math.
"Yeah, I just made that s--- up," Bueckers told ESPN. "I've gained like 18 pounds, so I did mental math. ... I'm hoping that most of what I put on is muscle. It feels like it."
Bueckers is playing like a superstar in Year 2 for the Wings. She's averaging 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 52.3% from the field, 42.9% from beyond the arc and 78.6% from the free-throw line.
The 24-year-old Bueckers won the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award, but the Wings won only 10 games. Bueckers averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists per game as a rookie. It was a frustrating year for Bueckers, but things have been different to start the 2026 season.
Dallas is 8-5 under first-year head coach Jose Fernandez and Bueckers is one of three players in the league averaging 19 points and five assists while maintaining her trademark efficiency.
At 8-5, the Wings are off to their best start since arriving in Dallas. Behind Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas is looking to make the playoffs this year and compete for the championship.
"I think we know how good we can be, how good we're capable of being," Fudd said. "You've seen glimpses of that ... to kind of have a taste of that definitely motivates everyone."
Bueckers was at Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs and paid attention to how the Spurs stayed together for 48 minutes to win on the road in a hostile environment.
That's the type of connectivity Bueckers wants in Dallas.
"Every time OKC had a response to what they did, they were clapping, they were huddling, they were hype about it," Bueckers said. "It's that level of connectivity and that level of passion and joy for the game and for each other that I think that's what we're focused on right now."
It will be fascinating to see if the Wings can make the playoffs in Year 2 of the Bueckers era. The All-Star looks and plays stronger this season after having a productive offseason training-wise.
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