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As collective bargaining discussions continue between the WNBA and its players, Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers delivered a direct and confident message regarding the league’s immediate future.
In a recent interview with ELLE, Bueckers was asked whether the WNBA season would proceed amid ongoing negotiations.
“Yes, there’ll be a season. We’re going to figure it out,” Bueckers told ELLE. “I think everybody wants to capitalize on the momentum right now, so I think we’re going to figure it out. We’ll have a season.”
Her remarks come at a time of sustained league growth, including increased attendance, expanding corporate partnerships, franchise expansion and record visibility. Bueckers’ response reflected confidence that both the league and its players recognize the importance of maintaining that trajectory.
Paige Bueckers Grows as Franchise Cornerstone Entering Year Two
Bueckers’ voice carries additional weight because of her production on the court.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 36 starts during her rookie campaign with the Wings. She shot 47.7% from the field, 33.1% from three-point range, and 88.8% from the free-throw line while logging 33.3 minutes per game. Her 51.3% effective field goal percentage underscored immediate efficiency at the professional level.
Bueckers earned All-Star honors, Rookie of the Year recognition, All-Rookie distinction and an All-WNBA selection in her debut season.
As the Wings build around their franchise guard entering Year Two, league stability becomes directly tied to competitive continuity.
Building Momentum for the Dallas Wings
Beyond league-wide negotiations, Bueckers has expressed optimism about the Wings’ internal direction, citing a foundational core and new leadership as key factors entering 2026.
She has already begun developing a working relationship with new head coach Jose Fernandez, who enters his first WNBA season following a 25-year collegiate tenure at South Florida that included nearly 500 victories and two gold medals with USA Basketball’s U18 and U19 national teams.
That relationship will receive additional reinforcement this month.
Bueckers was named to the USA roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while Fernandez will serve as a scout coach for the national team. Although their responsibilities differ, the shared USA Basketball environment provides additional time in practices, meetings, and preparation before WNBA training camp begins.
For a franchise guard and first-year head coach, even incremental alignment within a high-level competitive setting offers tangible value.
What’s Next for the Dallas Wings
If the season proceeds as anticipated, the Wings’ 2026 calendar is already set. Dallas holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, scheduled for April 13. The organization selected Bueckers first overall last April before she went on to capture Rookie of the Year honors.
Preseason play is slated to begin April 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Indiana Fever, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. CT. The contest marks the first of four meetings between Dallas and Indiana in 2026, including the regular-season opener May 9 in Indianapolis and an Aug. 20 matchup at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The Aug. 20 game follows last season’s sold-out Wings-Fever meeting at AAC that drew 20,409 fans — a franchise record and one of the largest regular-season crowds in WNBA history.
With the draft, preseason, and regular-season slate already outlined, Bueckers’ confidence regarding the league’s future aligns with a clear organizational roadmap in Dallas.
Should negotiations conclude as expected, the Wings’ next phase — under Fernandez and anchored by Bueckers — is positioned to begin on schedule.
