Reigning champions Las Vegas Aces were the latest to face Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers' wrath, and head coach Becky Hammon could not help but admire in defeat.

The Wings defeated the Aces in a blowout 96-66 victory, as Bueckers had an all-around performance of 10 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and no turnovers.

Before the game even started, reporters asked Hammon what makes Bueckers so versatile and the techniques the Aces used to prepare for her.

"She plays the right way,” Hammon said. “You take this away, she’s going to get to that. She just plays the game at a really, I would say, simple level, but it’s not simple. It’s very strategic, obviously, what she’s doing and how she’s reading defenses, but she plays the right way. It’s hard to beat players when they’re committed to just taking what the defense gets you."

“You want to take out one aspect, she’s going to hurt you in another aspect. So it’s all kind of like what you’re willing to live with. But she’s a very hard player to defend because you bring a double team, she’s going past it. You don’t, she might score over you. She’s just a stud. I’m a fan.” Hammon added.

Hammon was a cerebral point guard herself during her playing days in the WNBA, dominating games by blending her shooting efficiency and ball distribution to perfection, so it is high praise for Bueckers coming from the accomplished, multi-titled Aces HC.

Bueckers has similar abilities as a guard, and thanks to her help, the Wings now have a record of 9-5 for the season and look like genuine playoff contenders under HC Jose Fernandez.

The praise for Bueckers did not stop there, as she is also being compared to none other than Diana Taurasi.

Sug Sutton Reminds Paige Bueckers of Diana Taurasi

Sutton shared a backcourt with Taurasi during her time in Phoenix, and just days into her stint with the Wings, she has admitted that Bueckers gives off a similar feeling as the player who became the first to score 10,000 points in the WNBA in front of her.

“I played with Diana Taurasi, and Paige kind of reminds me of DT,” Sutton said. For Sutton, the comparison is less about style than about presence.

“For me, it’s their personalities, their leadership, and the way they carry themselves,” Sutton said.

Sutton also revealed that Bueckers has the same personality in real life as online, further admiring her authenticity, and is eager to learn from Bueckers, believing the parallels point to a bright future.

Bueckers and the Wings will now aim to make their wins in double digits following the game against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night.

So, do you think Paige Bueckers will ever come close to the numbers attained by Diana Taurasi? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy