Wings Could Make Strong Move to Boost Paige Bueckers at WNBA Trade Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When ESPN nine months ago ranked the all-time best rookie seasons in WNBA history, the site pegged Caitlin Clark as the No. 3 best rookie the league has seen, behind only Candace Parker (who was MVP in his rookie year) and Tamika Catchings. Wings star Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, has not quite been on Parker’s level, or even that of Catchings.
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But it could be argued that, at 18.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds, her first season is at least in the neighborhood of that of Clark (19.2 points 8.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds), especially when efficiency (45.0% from the field vs. 41.7%; 2.3 turnovers to 5.6) is factored in.
All this is to say that while Bueckers is not the transformative force that Clark is for the WNBA, she has just about as much chance to be a franchise cornerstone going forward for Dallas as Clark has for Indiana.
With that in mind, the Wings could find themselves at the center of discussions as the WNBA trade deadline approaches on August 7. That’s because in addition to Bueckers, Dallas has one of the league’s most accomplished scorers on hand–Arike Ogunbowale–and could easily trade her off in search of draft assets.
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While Ogunbowale is a big name in the WNBA, as a four-time All-Star with a career 20.1 scoring average, she ball dominant and not a great fit alongside Bueckers. Rookies Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly have looked more like better Bueckers’ fits, in both the short- and long-terms.
Ogunbowale is 28 and, like most of the league, heading into free agency, which might limit the return Dallas would get for her. But a draft pick would be worth it. She is an accomplished scorer, and dealing her might send a clear message that the Wings will be building around Bueckers in the coming years.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
