Back in January, while playing in Unrivaled, Paige Bueckers was asked what she wanted to add to her game ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, and her answer was specific.

“I wanna work on my left hand more, and I wanna get to the free throw line more,” Bueckers said. “So lowkey like, a little foul bait. But also, I wanna get the bump, the Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] shoulder bump into my midrange pull-up.”

Four months later, those lessons are showing up in her game. The Dallas Wings star is still studying the OKC Thunder superstar closely, but he is not the only NBA guard whose game has caught her attention.

The NBA playoffs have grabbed everyone’s attention over the last few weeks, and Bueckers is no different. The Wings even watched Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and Spurs together on the plane, and when Victor Wembanyama hit a half-court buzzer-beater at halftime, Bueckers said the plane erupted in screams.

While talking to reporters, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year revealed that she has been closely following the postseason and taking inspiration.

“I take a lot from Shai’s game, just being able to get to your spot consistently,” she said. “And [Spurs guard Stephon Castle], he’s my guy, he’s done a good job defensively. I just really enjoy watching basketball, so to see that level of competition. I mean, Wemby’s an alien, he’s unreal.”

SGA has built his offensive identity around patience, balance, and the ability to create clean looks without relying purely on athleticism. Bueckers does not overpower defenders either, which is why the connection makes sense. The shoulder bump, the midrange pull-up, and the ability to draw contact are all tools that can help her become harder to guard without forcing her away from the controlled style that already defines her game.

But besides SGA, Bueckers also pointed to New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. She revealed that she has learned from studying his footwork and ability to navigate defenses despite not being on the shorter side.

“For me too, watching Jalen Brunson and his footwork, I think I’ve learned a lot from that,” she further added. “His ability to not be the tallest and most athletic person on the floor, but his consistency in getting to his spot, getting to the rim, getting to the free throw line, being aggressive that way. Yeah, I really enjoy watching him.”

Like Brunson, Bueckers wins through timing and footwork, not physical dominance, along with her ability to stay under control in almost every situation. That is also why Brunson and Gilgeous-Alexander are such fitting players for her to study. Both are star guards who carry heavy offensive responsibility, create advantages for themselves and others, and consistently find ways to score without needing to play above the rim.

Bueckers is still only in her second WNBA season, but the Wings guard is already approaching her games like a veteran. Whether it is controlling tempo, creating efficient shots, or reading defenses, she has quickly developed into one of the smartest young guards in the league.

But even now, she is still trying to improve in areas most players would overlook. For a player already carrying major expectations after an impressive rookie season, that willingness to keep adding layers to her game matters. And in doing so, she has been learning from Gilgeous-Alexander and Brunson.

Brunson has already helped lead the New York Knicks into the NBA Finals, while SGA and the Thunder now sit just one win away from joining them.

Paige Bueckers Is Taking Over

Through her first seven games of this season, Bueckers has looked far more composed, patient, and controlled. Instead of forcing difficult shots or relying purely on her athleticism, she has consistently found ways to get to her spots efficiently. And right now, her numbers are exploding because of it.

She is currently averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting an incredibly efficient 52.2% from the field and 48.3% from beyond the arc.

She is also the only player in the WNBA this season with at least 130 points, 20 rebounds, and 35 assists, showing off her versatility and high scoring production. But the scariest part for her opponents is that she is doing all of this while constantly shifting between multiple roles.

Paige Bueckers spent most of her rookie season off the ball. This season, she’s the primary initiator. Depending on who she is going up against, Bueckers can move between point guard and shooting guard seamlessly, which has helped Dallas maintain its offensive flow without becoming predictable.

“Every game calls for something different,” She said after a practice session at SMU. “I love playing the point guard, I love playing the shooting guard. So to find that heavy mix of both… To be able to adjust to that and learn how to be most efficient in both spots is what I’m trying to do.”

To put things in perspective, in her latest performance against the New York Liberty, she finished with 24 points on efficient shooting as Dallas earned one of its biggest wins of the season so far.

The Wings defeated the Liberty 91-76 in Brooklyn, ending a difficult three-game road stretch against Chicago, Atlanta, and New York with a 2-1 record. Bueckers and Azzi Fudd led Dallas with 24 points each, while Arike Ogunbowale added 19. Fudd’s third-quarter explosion changed the game, but Bueckers helped steady the Wings throughout, answering New York’s pushes and giving Dallas another composed scoring presence in the backcourt.

The win also showed why Bueckers’ development matters so much for Dallas. The Wings struggled early, falling behind 11-2 before settling in, but they eventually took control behind sharper guard play, better spacing, and a strong second-half defensive effort. Against one of the WNBA’s title favorites, Bueckers looked comfortable in exactly the kind of high-pressure environment she has been preparing for.

That is where the lessons from players like Gilgeous-Alexander and Brunson become important. Bueckers is not simply watching them as a fan. She is studying how elite guards create space, absorb contact, control pace, and get to their spots when defenses know exactly what is coming.

And through the early part of her second season, those details are already starting to show.