Paige Bueckers has slipped just outside the top five in Bleacher Report’s latest ranking of the WNBA’s best players, coming in at No. 6 despite a strong second season that saw her emerge as an MVP contender. The Dallas Wings guard earned her second consecutive All-Star selection and led her team back to the playoffs after a three-year absence.
Hunter Cruse, who compiled the list, places Bueckers behind only Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Olivia Miles among guards, highlighting that her biggest challenge may be her own playstyle. Cruse points out her occasional passiveness and decreased aggression in attacking the basket, noting a drop from 18.7% to 12.7% in the share of her shot attempts at the rim from her rookie year to 2026.
Despite this, Bueckers remains remarkably efficient, boasting career-best shooting splits of 51% from the field, 40% from three, and 87% from the free-throw line, while averaging 20.5 points per game—ranking sixth in the league. Cruse praises her as potentially the greatest mid-range scorer in basketball history and one of the top off-ball movers and play processors the league has ever seen.
There is some concern about a patellar tendinitis flare-up Bueckers experienced at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, but fans hope it won’t hinder her impact as the Wings enter the WNBA playoffs later this month.
Fan Take: This ranking and analysis highlight how Bueckers’ growth continues to captivate WNBA followers and showcases the league’s rising talent. Her presence and performance could be pivotal in elevating the Wings’ playoff run, injecting excitement and spotlighting the evolving skill level in women’s basketball.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
