Calls Mount as Dallas Wings GM Comments on Paige Bueckers Usage in Her Rookie Season

“We’re ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas.” Paige Bueckers said in her introductory press conference. That is exactly what the Wings franchise was hoping for from Paige. With a cowboy hat and shoes on, the UConn star looked ready for Dallas. And now it’s time for the Dallas Wings to do their bit to make this partnership work effectively. GM Curt Miller is ready with the plan, but not all are convinced.

GM Miller was on Sabreena Merchant’s No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show when he was asked about what he has learned from the Fever’s front office about how a superstar like Bueckers and Clark can affect a WNBA franchise. “Yeah. I think first and foremost, Paige’s journey and Paige’s rookie season is her own. And Chris and his wonderful staff are gonna put her in positions to be successful,” Miller said.

Then came what stung some fans. “We don’t have a big break (in the 2025 season) where they can almost catch a second wind and then push to the finish line in the second half of the season,” he continued. “So, we have to watch this rookie class around the league about load management.” Load management- a word basketball fans are quite familiar with. The term used for Paige’s rookie season indicated that the Huskies star will get limited game time in her first season with the Wings.

Elaborating his point, Dallas GM pointed out the difference between the WNBA’s 2024 and 2025 seasons, where the 2024 WNBA season had an ‘Olympic break’ which made it a bit easier for the rookies to catch a breath as they got a month-long break. “We don’t have a big break where they can almost catch a second wind and then push to the finish line in the second half of the season,” he continued.

NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Championship Practice-Connecticut Apr 5, 2025 Tampa, FL, USA UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers 5 talks to media before the NCAA Womans Final practice at Amalie Arena. Tampa Amalie Arena FL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNathanxRayxSeebeckx 20250405_nrs_fo8_0046

Miller extended his load management strategy beyond Bueckers to the entire 2025 rookie class, signaling a league-wide trend that might take place. “It’s not just our rookies, we’re all going to be tuned in to load management… especially these rookies that played long into their collegiate season,” he said.

The Huskies’ guard played 38 games in her last season. In those games, she averaged 30+ minutes per game. During the NCAA Tournament, Paige clocked 196 minutes in six games (32+ min average), leading the side to their 12th title. Because of her extensive playing time in college, the 23-year-old star deserves rest to adjust to the WNBA. The plan seems perfect on paper, but Paige sitting out games or not starting games under ‘load management’ could be a massive risk for a franchise on the edge. Some fans certainly think so.

Fans react to the load management decision for Paige Bueckers

Many fans were blunt in their opposition to Miller’s cautious tone. One fan wrote, “Man I fuckin hate load management! LOL, every other game I turned on this NBA season my favorite player was out!” This outburst reflects a broader frustration with “load management” diluting the product. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver himself has admitted that fans “hate” load management and the league must “rethink” strategies because it damages the relationship between stars and supporters. “This is ultimately about the fans,” said Silver. “And that we’ve taken this [load management] too far. This is an acknowledgment that it has gotten away from us a bit.”

The WNBA, with its shorter 44-game season, amplifies this concern, as missing even a few games could mean fans miss Bueckers in a significant portion of her rookie campaign. And for fans, it hurts more now that the tickets and season passes are already sold out for the Dallas Wings.

After all, the only reason for this “quick sell” was Paige. The Wings’ future superstar is a generational talent able to win games on her own and even make plays for her team. Mid-range shots, clutch plays, steals, deep three-pointers, and even a game-winner, Paige can impact the game in multiple ways, and fans are coming in to watch that.

And so, another fan took the criticism further, writing, “Miller is raising his White flag already to fight for the playoff. Dallas is not going to win a lot of tight games due to LOAD Management…. What a SHAME for fans to go to their games and their stars are on LOAD Management Program. This is totally BS to the hard paying fans.” Here, the anger is rooted not just in losing games but in a sense of betrayal. WNBA ticket prices, though lower than NBA averages, still represent a significant investment for many fans.

Moreover, Dallas has struggled historically to break through as a playoff contender. Given their 9-31 record in 2024 and 2023 regular season record of 22-18, which marked their most wins since they moved to Dallas in 2016, fans understandably crave a breakthrough. So, any hint of cautious management over championship urgency triggers alarm for them.

Miller is raising his White flag already to fight for the playoff. Dallas is not going to win a lot of tight games due to LOAD Management…. What a SHAME for fans to go to their games and their stars are on LOAD Management Program. This is totally BS to the hard paying fans

— Phu M Tran (@m_tran28776) April 26, 2025

Yet, not all reactions were negative. Some fans see the logic behind the decision. Those who have been following Paige are quite aware of her injury history – her sophomore season was marred by a leg injury and then during the offseason she tore her the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and missed the entire 2022-23 season. One user, hence, called it a smart move. He wrote, “It’s a smart move. she’s just played like 40 games in college, with a potential 44 games, plus playoffs if they make it, and then a few months after that, straight to Unrivaled”. So, yes, maybe Bueckers does need load management as much as possible, especially considering that she signed with Unrivaled before she even finalized her contract with the Wings.

Urging more teams to follow the move, one user said, “Load management should be happening on every team even though I’m sure it won’t on some.”

It’s a smart move.. she’s just played like 40 games in college, with a potential 44 games, plus playoffs if they make it, and then a few months after that, straight to Unrivaled.. that’s a lot of basketball without an extended break!

— junaid (@pacersfeverfan) April 26, 2025

One fan even suggested the team to “tank”, saying, “tank for the draft is the best option anyway for Dallas.. imagine a Betts on their team.. with Paige & Arike”. What they are hinting at is a long-term strategic perspective. Many generational talents are set to headline the 2026 draft, so a calculated “tank” could land Dallas a future core piece alongside Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. Lauren Betts, as the fan mentioned, could be a steal. She is projected to be a top pick. If not her, then think Miles, Fudd, Latson, Johnson. So, by normalizing cautious usage, Dallas could be seen as trendsetters rather than quitters.

Finally, a sharp-eyed fan raised a sobering point: “Well I don’t see having a stat filled season with win ROTY if that’s the case. And because of her injury history that is a key factor.” Winning ROTY usually demands both availability and statistical production. Aliyah Boston, for instance, averaged 31.2 minutes in 40 games for Indiana en route to her 2023 ROTY honor, averaging 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. If Bueckers plays limited minutes or sits games out, it could affect her award candidacy and marketability.

It is clear that Dallas finds itself navigating a tightrope: managing Paige Bueckers’ health responsibly without alienating a fanbase hungry for immediate success. How it all pans out remains to be seen.

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