ARLINGTON -- Paige Bueckers already knew what it felt like to be atop the mountain. After her first WNBA season with the Dallas Wings, the 23-year-old knows what it's like to walk through the valley.

This year has been something of a coming-of-age moment for Bueckers, who on Tuesday was named WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The women's basketball phenom will look back on 2025 as the year she won the national championship at UConn and went No. 1 in the WNBA draft. She'll also remember the Wings going 10-34 and missing the playoffs.

Bueckers picked up personal accolades but also lost more in her first season as a professional than she has in her entire career.

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"It's hard when you're in it. But I've always looked back at everything that's happened in my life and been grateful for it, so I've just been in an unconditional state of gratitude knowing that this is bettering me for the future and this has a purpose," Bueckers told The Dallas Morning News after the Wings' last practice of the season.

"It's who you are when things aren't going your way. That says a lot about you, your character and your faith."

A day after that last practice on Sept. 10, the Wings, who had been eliminated from the playoffs since Aug. 20, picked up their 10th and final victory of the season against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center, ending a 10-game losing streak. Bueckers recorded a game-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added eight rebounds and seven assists in the 97-76 win.

She promised fans in Arlington after the win that "the results are coming."

With Bueckers at the helm of the franchise, championship-caliber returns could very well be the case -- especially if she has the right pieces around her. The Wings, struck by injuries and roster turnover in 2025, did not turn things around after finishing 9-31 in 2024 and securing the top pick in Bueckers, who in the offseason plans to travel and rest after a whirlwind year.

But the star guard, who became the 10th straight newcomer to sweep Associated Press and WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, thrived and remained forward-thinking despite less than ideal circumstances.

"Our expectations for her were sky high, and she's exceeded all of them," Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb told The News. "She's a tremendous player on the court. She's a wonderful teammate. She's a fantastic ambassador for the organization."

Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in what was a historic rookie season. She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month in June, July and August and holds the Wings rookie franchise records for scoring (692) and assists (194). The Minnesota native, who scored 20 or more points in 17 games this season, also ranks third in WNBA history among rookies in those same categories.

She scored in double figures in all but one of the 36 games she appeared in this season and scored in double figures for 30 consecutive games to start her WNBA career.

In an 81-80 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in August, Bueckers dropped 44 points, the most by any WNBA player in a game since the 2023 season. She shot 80.9% from the field and broke the WNBA single-game rookie scoring record, adding to an impressive resume she started building in middle school.

"It's probably overused, but she's generational," Wings general manager Curt Miller told The News.

Making a home in Dallas

Bueckers joined a franchise that has had only one winning season since it moved to North Texas in 2016. It was the Wings' nine-win season in 2024 that put them in position to win the draft lottery.

Leading up to the draft, rumors swirled that Bueckers, then the projected No. 1 pick, did not want to play in Dallas and that she would request a trade if the organization selected her.

Bueckers did not validate any of the speculation, saying there was nowhere specific she hoped to play.

When she officially became a Wing, Bueckers seemed high on Dallas.

"I'm extremely excited to be there. I've only heard great things about the city," Bueckers said on draft night in April. "Just extremely grateful that they took the pick on me. I can see the city has great love for that pick."

Throughout the Wings' season of struggles, more commentary circulated that Bueckers wanted out of Dallas and was unhappy with the franchise. But she told The News she "loved this whole experience."

"I love being here in Dallas. Love the new organization, through and through. The teammates, the coaching staff, the front office, the support staff, " Bueckers said. "I feel like everybody's welcomed me with open arms."

This isn't to say Bueckers has been OK with losing this season. But she understands, especially as a No. 1 pick, that rebuilding an organization takes time.

First-year Wings coach Chris Koclanes said in his postgame news conference after the team's season finale that Bueckers' mindset gives him confidence going into the offseason.

"Incredible when that's your leader," Koclanes said. "She is the example with how she shows up. Not only the words she speaks but in her behaviors, in her actions, day in and day out."

This isn't the first time Bueckers has played the waiting game. She practiced patience during her UConn days, which were plagued with injuries, including an ACL tear that forced her to miss her entire junior season. Bueckers came back from the injury and won a national title in her final year.

"Faith is trusting in the things you can't see," Bueckers told The News. "The results haven't shown yet, so it's not something we've seen [but] having faith that it will come through."

The Wings are still building, but Bueckers has already embraced the Dallas-Fort Worth community.

She attended a Dallas Stars playoff game in May, and in June, threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game. Bueckers joined the Dallas Mavericks' festivities when the organization drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall this summer. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starter visited Ellis Davis Field House in late August to conduct a clinic with Verizon sweepstakes winners and Dallas ISD girls basketball players.

And getting settled is one of her plans for the offseason.

"Dallas is home base now," Bueckers told The News.

AdvertisementBueckers' offseason plans

Along with getting more established in North Texas, Bueckers said she plans to travel during the offseason to visit loved ones across the country.

Come January, she'll be in Miami to play in Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

Unrivaled, which held its inaugural season from January to March of this year, signed Bueckers to a three-year deal before the Wings drafted her in April. Her first-year salary will reportedly exceed what she would make over her four-year WNBA rookie contract, worth about $348,000.

But before she returns to competition, Bueckers, who missed eight games this season due to various injuries and load management, will also take time to recover.

"I know my body and my mind need a break, just going from season to season," Bueckers told The News.

She won the national championship with UConn on April 6, went No. 1 in the WNBA draft on April 14 and reported to Wings training camp on April 27. The Wings opened their season on May 16 and wrapped it up last week.

"You're in college one day and then you're a grown-up having to pay taxes and living in your own apartment," Bueckers said. "This has probably been the craziest transition yet."

The transition resulted in quite the year for the league's top rookie. After making history, Bueckers said she's looking forward to grinding and getting better. And in the meantime, "hopefully getting a little tan."

Related StoriesRead MoreDallas Wings' Paige Bueckers named WNBA Rookie of the YearIn 36 games with the Wings, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers named AP Rookie of the YearBueckers was also an AP All-WNBA Second Team selection and unanimous choice to the AP All-Rookie Team.

Find more Wings coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

What's next for Wings star Paige Bueckers after whirlwind year in basketball?