When you’re the No. 1 pick coming into a 9-31 team, you’re going to face a long checklist of things you need to do. That’s the situation Paige Bueckers is in as the Dallas Wings open training camp ahead of her rookie year in the WNBA.
Bueckers must get herself adjusted to her new hometown, she must figure out her new coach’s system on both sides of the ball, she must work on her individual game. She is, after all, a player who comes in with a national championship on her resume, not to mention four NCAA-All-Tournament selections, three All-America selections, three conference Player of the Year awards and one Naismith national player of the year award.
But perhaps more important than her individual development this year will be figuring out how she fits with her new teammates. Speaking to The Wings Bulletin on Substack, Bueckers spoke about using training camp to build chemistry.
“I played against some of them through USA Basketball, just through college basketball and high school, so just to have that, and we’re all friends, we’re all cool in the basketball world, so obviously when you’re on the same team you’re closer, but it’s really fun. I think chemistry, like you said, it is very underrated part of basketball,” Bueckers said.
“So in order to build that, come in and try to earn everybody’s respect. I stay connected with everybody, it makes things a lot easier.”
Paige Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington in their first day of training camp with the Dallas Wings. 📸 pic.twitter.com/i7546YXOkW
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Bueckers is a point guard and the feel she develops alongside established star guard Arike Ogunbowale will be critical. But she will also need to jibe with incoming defensive star DiJonai Carrington and shooter Ty Harris, as well as post players NaLyssa Smith and Myisha Hines-Allen.
“I think we’re all excited to be here, there’s a lot of new, so I think the team’s mentality is just to get better every single day and our chemistry going, growing our work ethic, play with passion, energy and intensity that doesn’t matter how long we’re playing together,” Bueckers said. “Obviously, there will be ups and downs, as there is to every single season for every single team but continue to grow together, stay together, really enjoy playing with each other.”