ARLINGTON, Texas — Wings coach José Fernández said Paige Bueckers has earned MVP and All-WNBA First Team consideration for leading the Dallas Wings from 10 wins to 26 in her second season. He made the case after Dallas beat the Phoenix Mercury 87-82 on Sept. 19 in its final regular-season game at College Park Center.
Bueckers scored 26 points that afternoon and passed Seimone Augustus for the most points by any player through her first two WNBA seasons. She finished the regular season Wednesday with 878 points, a franchise single-season record.
The WNBA has not announced its 2026 awards. Bueckers made the All-WNBA Second Team as a rookie.
José Fernández Points To Paige Bueckers’ 3-Point Shooting
Bueckers made 5 of 9 3-point attempts against Phoenix, including a 25-foot pull-up with 0.5 seconds left in the first half while being fouled. She missed the free throw that followed, and Fernández said he gave her a hard time about it after the game.
“I think her being more attack-minded has really opened up a lot of things for her,” Fernández said. “I was just giving her a hard time. She made the incredible shot right to the end of the half, but she missed a free throw. So I can give her a hard time about missing free throws.”
“But her being able to space the floor and shoot it, now it opens up so much stuff, right? Because now people, she’s got more room to operate,” Fernández continued. “But if she hasn’t shown that she’s an MVP candidate and first-team all-league in her second year, to lead this team from 10 wins to 26 wins. So she’s more than deserving.”
Entering Wednesday’s finale, Bueckers averaged 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while shooting 51% from the field and 40.9% from 3-point range. She scored 25 points with 7 assists in a 103-91 win at the Seattle Storm, her 26th game this season with at least 20 points.
Dallas Wings Finish 17-Win Turnaround In José Fernández’s First Season
Fernández took over a team that went 10-34 in 2025. Dallas finished 27-17, setting franchise records for wins and winning percentage (61.4%). The team said the 17-win improvement is the largest single-season turnaround in WNBA history.
Phoenix outscored Dallas 33-31 after halftime on Sept. 19 and got within 83-81 late. Fernández said the Wings answered each Mercury run, and he rested Bueckers before bringing her back with about six minutes left.
“I thought we came out and we responded when they made runs, and we made baskets,” Fernández explained. “I think when we got [Bueckers] back in at the six-minute mark and she was well-rested, we were able to close out the game.”
Last season, a national panel of 72 media members voted Bueckers onto the Second Team with 112 points. Players receive five points for each First Team vote and three for each Second Team vote. The fifth First Team spot in 2025 went to a player with 320 points.
Dallas is the No. 7 seed and opens a best-of-three first-round series Sunday on the road against the No. 2 seed, either the Golden State Valkyries or the Las Vegas Aces.
