The WNBA has taken a hard stance against heavy contact on the court in 2026. Now, Paige Bueckers, one of the biggest stars in the game, is sharing her thoughts on the new rules.

The Dallas Wings Guard shared her stance during a post-game media session after the team lost to the Atlanta Dream on May 23. During that game, Bueckers dealt with heavy physical defense and was held to a career-low 7 points.

Moreover, she also got a technical foul for clapping three times after she drew a foul from Indya Nivar, which has since been rescinded. But keeping that aside, in another interview with Sportico on Sunday, Bueckers appreciated the clampdown on physicality, saying:

"I think the refs have been cleaning up the physicality, the freedom of movement stuff, whether it's on-the-ball screen or off-ball movements. So the defenses have to play less physical and let players with the ball more often. I think it's good for the game."

She also discussed the current adjustment period that players are experiencing early in the season, and then explained the impact of the whistle. Bueckers noted that defenses now have to play "less physically" on ball screens and off-ball actions. 

The WNBA introduced these changes for a specific reason. The league ordered increased technical and flagrant foul fines tied to the new bargaining agreement. The main goal is to reduce excessive contact. 

This change has led to early-season personal fouls increasing from around 17.5 to 22.3 per game, and free throws from 18.2 to 23.1. 

Freedom-of-movement rules benefit guards who rely on spacing and shot creation. These changes will benefit players such as Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.

Some observers have even called the rule changes a "gift" for Clark, who was a regular victim of fouls while driving to the basket.

But Bueckers isn't the first player to voice her opinion on this new shift in the WNBA.

Napheesa Collier Happy To See 'Hindering' Physicality Dealt With

Concerns about heavy contact had been building for years among players and coaches before the league took action. Minnesota Lynx's star Forward Napheesa Collier welcomed the change with open arms.

She highlighted the negative impact of that heavy contact earlier this month, telling NPR:

"The game is too physical right now. I think that’s been a complaint of players and coaches alike for the past several years. We’ve been compared to the NBA of the 80s, in just our physicality. And I do think that hinders the players, obviously. You come to watch players play offense and to score. When it’s so physical, the game is not fun to watch, and it’s not fun to play."

Because of the sudden shift in gameplay enforced by the new rule, it has also created some wild box scores, like the Minnesota Lynx opener that had 42 fouls and 52 free throws. Several games have crossed the 35-foul mark, and players like rookie Azzi Fudd have dealt with early foul trouble. 

The WNBA is trying its best to balance physical competition with a cleaner and more entertaining style of basketball. What do you think about the WNBA's new rules on physicality? 

Read More at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Yask Kotak