“Not That I Think Paige Isn’t Valuable”: Paige Bueckers’ MVP Push Gets Honest Assessment From WNBA Analyst

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers has posted solid numbers, but there is some debate on where she stands in the WNBA MVP race.

After 23 games, the Wings star has averaged 20.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. She has shot 51.6% from the field, 38.1% from three-point range, and 86.7% at the free-throw line. The Wings are also doing well, holding an impressive 16-8 record this season.

Advertisement

On The Athletic’s latest “No Offseason” show, Zena Keita and Sabreena Merchant discussed Bueckers’ claim for the WNBA MVP. Merchant argued that fellow teammate Jessica Shepard’s league-leading win shares and versatile impact slightly dilute Bueckers’ MVP case.

“So, Paige is in the top five that I had listed of names that I’m considering here,” Merchant said. “The tricky thing with Paige is just Jessica Shepard has been so valuable to the Dallas Wings… You look at win shares, and Jessica Shepard leads the league in win shares for the Dallas Wings. She’s oftentimes the only big that Jose Fernandez trusts on this team. She’s playing high-30s minutes in a lot of these big games, doing the playmaking, bringing the ball up, just an enormous impact for the Dallas Wings.”

“It’s hard to separate that for me from what Paige Bueckers is doing. It’s not that I think Paige isn’t valuable,” Merchant added. “It’s just, who is the most valuable on the Dallas Wings? I’m pretty sure it’s still Paige, but there is just some cannibalizing of value there because Jessica Shepard has been so good. I think that’s what helps make A’ja Wilson’s candidacy so strong is that they feed her as the MVP all the time.”

Paige Bueckers Unhappy With Wings Situation

There have been far too many games for the Wings this season where they have entered the second half, and particularly the fourth quarter, trailing. This is not a good look for the team that wants to go deep in the playoffs.

Even Paige Bueckers is unhappy about it, calling it one of their biggest weaknesses as a team.

“It’s a bad habit for me and the team. If you watch a lot of our games, we’re trailing at the end of the third (quarter), and we’re starting off slow in the second half. And we have to find a will to win in the fourth. And I hate that about us,” Bueckers said.