Paige Bueckers Just Beat Caitlin Clark in One Major WNBA GM Survey Question originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The WNBA’s future is loaded with star power, but general managers have a new favorite player to build around.
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In the 2026 WNBA GM Survey, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers was voted the No. 1 player GMs would sign if they were starting a franchise today. Bueckers received 33 percent of the vote, finishing ahead of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson, who tied for second at 20 percent.
That’s a notable shift from last year’s survey, when Clark led the same category with 50 percent of the vote.
Why WNBA GMs picked Paige Bueckers over Caitlin Clark
This does not mean Clark has fallen out of the WNBA’s elite tier. She still received votes as a franchise-building player, finished second to Chelsea Gray in the “best point guard” category and was one of the few players mentioned in the MVP race.
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But the survey shows how quickly Bueckers’ stock has climbed entering her second WNBA season.
Bueckers’ case is easy to understand:
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She gives Dallas a true franchise centerpiece.
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She can score, create and play off the ball.
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Her game fits with almost any roster construction.
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GMs also voted Dallas as the team that made the best offseason moves.
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The Wings were picked as the WNBA’s most improved team and most fun team to watch.
Bueckers is not just being viewed in a vacuum. GMs appear to be buying the entire Dallas picture, from the roster moves to the young core to the entertainment value.
Clark remains one of the league’s biggest stars and most dangerous offensive engines. Wilson remains the safest superstar in the sport and was picked by 60 percent of GMs to win MVP.
Still, this category is about one question: If a GM could start from scratch, who would they choose?
In 2026, the answer was Bueckers.
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That alone should add even more attention to every Wings-Fever matchup this season.
