Paige Bueckers has been one of the WNBA’s most efficient scorers, but the way she produces those points tells an entirely different story. Behind her smooth pull-up jumpers is a history of pain that she has learned to cope with.

"People get mad because I don't attack the rim as often," Bueckers said on Sue Bird's podcast on Friday. "And part of that is trauma of playing in crowded areas, having to land on one leg. Like, so I'm still fighting that three years later."

The numbers back up her admission. Bueckers is averaging 20.9 points but just 3.6 free throw attempts per game this season, a low mark for a scorer at her level and a clear sign she avoids rim contact.

That concern originates from her time at UConn. A torn ACL followed a sophomore season injury of a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus in August 2022, ending her entire 2022-23 season.

Around the same time, women's college basketball was rapidly growing in popularity, resulting in the 2023 championship game having just shy of 10 million viewers.

Bueckers noted that she was worried she would not be able to keep up with the sport while it continued to move forward.

"It helped me really learn how to get to my spots efficiently and work smarter and not harder," she said, describing how the setback reshaped her game. "How can I be more efficient in my cuts, in my movement, in my load?"

She led UConn to the 2025 NCAA Championship. She was picked No. 1 in the WNBA draft. Bueckers averages 19.9 points through 2 seasons of playing professionally.

While Bueckers continues to focus on developing her game on the court, she also finds the time to celebrate the accomplishments of her teammates off the court, particularly those closest to her.

Paige Bueckers Celebrates Azzi Fudd's Historic Win

Fudd became the first rookie to win the WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest on Friday night in Chicago, defeating Portland's Bridget Carleton and four other competitors. She scored 30 points total in the last round and made 20 of her 26 shots.

Bueckers posted on her Instagram Story: "Winner winner chicken dinner " while watching her girlfriend and Wings teammate from the front row.

Fudd's display of shooting also tied Allie Quigley and Sabrina Ionescu for the second-highest amount of points in the history of the contest, with Ionescu's 37 points in 2023 being the only points higher. Carleton, with 29 points shot in round one, scored 19 in the last round.

Do you think Fudd's shooting display puts her among the top WNBA shooters? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta