Dallas Wings HC Drops Strong Arike Ogunbowale Assessment as Paige Bueckers Returns in Phoenix Game

The last game was a disaster! The Dallas Wings fell to 1-9, and it wasn’t just the loss – it was how they lost. They were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the third quarter, fell behind by double digits right out of the gate, and just never looked like they were in it. You know what really summed it all up? Fourteen assists… and fifteen turnovers. That stat alone screams one thing loud and clear that the Wings are missing their point guards, Tyasha Harris and Paige Bueckers. But we’ve got good news.

Bueckers is finally back. And if there’s one thing we’ve seen this season, it’s that when Paige is healthy, she’s the primary playmaker this team desperately needs. With Harris sidelined for the season after knee surgery, keeping Bueckers on the floor has basically become mission-critical for Dallas.  She hasn’t played since May 29 against the Chicago Sky, but she’s suiting up again against the Phoenix Mercury.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” Bueckers said. “Battled some stuff, glad to be back. Excited to keep building, get back on the court.” That “stuff” she mentioned wasn’t easy. First came a concussion, then an illness, which kept her off the court for four games, but also gave her time to pause, reset, and think about her new role. Because we know that rookie or not, Bueckers has been thrust into a leadership spot on a team still trying to find its rhythm.

But you know what’s been brewing behind the scenes? A shift in how the Wings use Arike Ogunbowale. Head coach Chris Koclanes recently admitted something a lot of people have been wondering: Arike “doesn’t really want to be on the ball.” One of the W’s top scorers is more comfortable off the ball and now, with Bueckers back, they might actually be able to build around that.

Chris Koclanes says Arike Ogunbowale “doesn’t really want to be on the ball” and believes she is more comfortable off the ball. Paige Bueckers’ return will help with that without question.#WingsUp

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 12, 2025

Even before the season started, everyone was asking – can Arike and Paige actually work in the same backcourt? Two ball-dominant guards with big personalities and huge responsibilities? Seemed like a stretch. But now, with Koclanes pushing an offense that flows through Paige’s decision-making (something he’s been preaching since training camp), we might just be seeing the blueprint finally click.

If you need proof, just look at Paige’s last outing before the setback – 15 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks against Chicago. Koclanes wasn’t shy about what she brings either, “She’s gonna have the ball in her hands, and she’s gonna be in a lot of primary actions as the first facilitator.” Arike has been learning to be comfortable with it.

Before Bueckers’ injury, Arike was averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. The shooting splits were not quite her usual numbers – 30% from the field, 25% from deep—but still, progress. She’s adapting, and more importantly, she’s buying into the system. “I’ve just been trying to get used to the system, trying not to overdo it, and still share the ball,” she said.

The adjustment’s been real – for both of them. This offense isn’t a free-for-all. It’s about rhythm, spacing, and timing. Ogunbowale has been finding her spots a little differently this year. “I might have been able to shoot a bunch, now we’ve got players who can knock down shots too. So I’m just trying to feel it out, share the ball – and we can all score,” she added. That’s the mindset the Wings need right now. Because during the Bueckers’ four-game absence, they didn’t win a single game despite everyone stepping up. 

Now heading into Wednesday night, Dallas sits at the very bottom of the standings, still searching for their second win of the season. But the return of Bueckers is more than just about points or assists, it’s about leadership. However, one WNBA legend wants PB to “unleash more” as a leader if the Wings want to flip the script on this season. 

Can Paige Bueckers take the wheel? Lisa Leslie weighs in 

The Dallas Wings have stumbled hard out of the gate in this 2025 season. Some really thought this was going to be the year. Why? Well, they drafted Paige Bueckers at No. 1, brought in DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith, and brought in a new head coach, Chris Koclanes. 

The problem isn’t players’ performance. Ogunbowale has been doing her thing and Bueckers has been solid. She’s averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game – impressive numbers for any rookie. But it’s just not translating into wins. So, what’s going wrong? Well, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie recently addressed that exact question on her podcast, Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie. She had some pretty real thoughts about what’s been holding Dallas back.

“I’m a little worried about Dallas,” Leslie said. “And I guess I should just say, one, it takes time to build chemistry. And you don’t only have one new rookie who came in, Paige Bueckers, right? You have Paige Bueckers. You also have NaLyssa Smith. You also have DiJonai Carrington. Like, I feel like that’s a lot of different personalities and pieces and a new coach.”

She’s not wrong. The Wings are young, full of new faces, and clearly still working through the growing pains. Chemistry doesn’t magically show up on Day 1. But then Lisa took it a step further – questioning whether Paige, despite being a winner at every level, can actually lead the way in her rookie year “Paige is a winner, right? She’s won at every level,” she said. “But she’s a rookie. Can she actually huddle the team and have a voice to lead as a rookie?”

We know that there aren’t many rookies who walk into the WNBA and take over like it’s nothing. Caitlin Clark might be doing it, but that’s not the norm.  Even though Paige was the leader at UConn, this is a whole different stage. Still, Leslie believes Bueckers can take that step. In fact, she wants her to.

May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) and guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard DiJonai Carrington (21) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

After sharing an anecdote about Leslie’s college coach having told her a freshman to lead by example rather than by speaking to her older teammates, Leslie said, “You don’t have to wait a year, just because you’re a rookie, to use your voice. I would say to Paige, ‘Hey, show [her Wings teammates] by how you show up, how you shoot, how you stay after practice. But also show them based on what you know needs to happen,'” 

So, Lisa acknowledges Bueckers is still new to this league, but also knows the potential that’s sitting right there waiting to be unleashed. Paige Bueckers has always had the game. The question now is: when will she fully take the reins?

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