Paige Bueckers Leads the Way, but Recent History Shows Rebuilds Remain a Multi-Year Project

Building for the future: The Dallas Wings embrace patience as they develop around Paige Bueckers.

The Dallas Wings entered All-Star weekend with a 6-17 record. The franchise’s 2025 No. 1 pick, Paige Bueckers, will be a starter in tonight’s exhibition displaying the best players in the world. Bueckers became the 10th player in WNBA history who has been selected to start a WNBA All-Star Game as a rookie. Bueckers joins Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Shoni Schimmel, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Chamique Holdsclaw.

Dallas is in the early stages of a long-term rebuild, centered around franchise cornerstone Bueckers. With an eye on the 2026 draft and a focus on finding the right supporting pieces, the front office is playing the long game. The Wings also feature three other promising rookies in their rotation: Aziaha James, Luisa Geiselsöder, and JJ Quinerly. It is an uncommon luxury in a league to have four rookies produce for a team with limited roster spots. But even with young talent in place, rebuilding in the WNBA takes time, multiple drafts, and smart roster moves in free agency or trades to build a contender.

The Seattle Storm are a perfect example. After a painful transition period, the team drafted Jewell Loyd with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, Storm finished that season just 10-24. A year later, they doubled down by selecting Breanna Stewart with the No. 1 pick. In their first season together, the duo led Seattle to a 16-18 record. The team was far from a finished product, but took a major step forward. That patience paid off, as Loyd and Stewart eventually delivered championships in 2018 and 2020.

The Las Vegas Aces followed a similar blueprint, stacking three consecutive No. 1 picks: Kelsey Plum (2017), A’ja Wilson (2018), and Jackie Young (2019). The original team San Antonio Silver Stars struggled early, going 8-26 in 2017 and the franchise moved to Las Vegas in 2018. The duo led the team to a 14-20 record in 2018, before breaking through with a 21-13 finish in 2019. It wasn’t until years later that the core trio matured into a dominant force, winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.

Even the Indiana Fever’s recent rise underscores the value of patience and long-term planning. The addition of 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston gave the franchise a much-needed anchor, but the team still finished just 13-27. It wasn’t until Caitlin Clark joined her in 2024 that Indiana found its rhythm, with the dynamic duo helping lift the Fever to a 20-20 record in their first season together making real progress, but not an overnight leap to contention.

In each case, the presence of a star player was only the beginning. Building around them with smart drafting, development, and key pickups in free agency and trades paid dividends for their teams.

Dallas wants to be next.

With Bueckers, they already have a franchise-changing guard who is an elite passer, efficient scorer, and competitor with championship pedigree. But rebuilding around her will take more than just one lottery pick. It means determining which current players have long-term value, which ones are placeholders, and how they complement Bueckers’ game.

As the Wings enter a new phase, questions surround head coach Chris Koclanes’ ability to make winning adjustments during games and building a long-term foundation. The upcoming months will be critical for evaluating his impact beyond wins and losses, focusing instead on growth, culture, and structure. So far, however, the team has yet to show signs that winning habits are taking hold under his leadership.

While Bueckers is the centerpiece, the Wings know they’re still one or two elite talents away from real contention. That makes the 2026 WNBA Draft a potential franchise-altering moment. Dallas is positioning itself for another top pick, with the hope of landing a player who can be a long-term partner next to Bueckers.

While most rookies are adjusting to the speed of the pro game, Bueckers is already having an impact beyond the stat sheet being selected to start the All-Star game in her rookie season. Around the league, she commands respect, both from fellow players and veterans who’ve admired her journey, her humbleness and welcoming grace.

That respect matters.

As free agency becomes more active in the WNBA with the upcoming CBA and more expansion teams coming, star players are increasingly interested in joining teams with structure, direction, and elite talent. Bueckers and new GM Curtis Miller give Dallas structure and clear direction, something they haven’t had in a long time. They’ve had All-WNBA players and All-Stars, but Bueckers has motion across the league that interests other stars. Combine that with a new practice facility being built for 2026 season and the upcoming renovation of the Dallas Convention Center arena preparing for the 2027 season, the Wings can suddenly become a destination.

In year one of their rebuild, the Dallas Wings have already found their franchise cornerstone in Paige Bueckers. The focus now shifts to evaluating the roster, establishing a strong culture, and preparing for the next draft. While a full rebuild typically takes two to three years, Bueckers' presence gives Dallas a promising foundation for the future.