Is Paige Bueckers a Rookie of the 12 months lock?

Paige Bueckers, the preseason favourite to win Rookie of the 12 months, is comfortably holding her lead. Bueckers is in a much bigger function than another rookie, and he or she’s outperforming the pack.

There actually isn’t a lot else to say concerning the state of the award, so as an alternative, let’s audit the performances of the preseason favorites.

Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)

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Within the first week of the season, each the Dallas Wings and No. 1 general choose Paige Bueckers had been struggling. Now, approaching All-Star break, the Dallas Wings are nonetheless struggling. Bueckers, nevertheless, isn’t.

By her first 4 video games, Paige shot under 40 % from the sphere thrice. Within the 14 video games since, she’s solely completed so on 4 events. Her averages of 18.4 factors per recreation, 5.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds depart little question for her place within the ROTY standings.

In truth, the one lacking piece to the PB5 puzzle is profitable extra basketball video games. It received’t harm her candidacy, however six wins in 23 video games is unhealthy. The Wings are unhealthy. Splash strikes within the offseason marketed a brand new Dallas roster that may be constructed round their incoming rookie, however, oftentimes, it looks as if they’re holding Bueckers again from profitable. Arike Ogunbowale, Paige’s backcourt co-star, continues to be combating a career-long battle with effectivity, which hasn’t improved regardless of a drop in shot makes an attempt this season. Bueckers is on the quick observe to a significant award, however Dallas is on a quick observe to the underside of the league standings. Sorry Wings followers, you may’t have all of it.

Sonia Citron & Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics)

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The Washington Mystics had three choices within the high six picks of the 2025 WNBA draft. Given the fluctuant nature of younger WNBA gamers, followers had been hoping that perhaps one of the brand new Mystics would appear like a possible future star. Effectively, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen aren’t simply potential stars: they’re main the crew to a playoff spot, and incomes themselves choices to the All-Star recreation.

If anybody has an argument to high Bueckers within the ROTY race, it’s Citron. She’s averaging 14.1 factors and 5 rebounds per recreation, each second amongst rookies. Whereas she’s 4 factors per recreation behind Bueckers, she shoots a better share from each 3 and the free throw line, and solely 0.6 % worse from the ground as an entire. She additionally makes an attempt 4 fewer photographs than the No. 1 general choose, explaining the discrepancy in scoring. Realistically, Citron in all probability is not going to have an actual likelihood to win the award except she will get inside two factors per recreation of Bueckers. Nevertheless, that’s not unimaginable. If Citron has a dominant second half to her season, she may nonetheless see her identify on a trophy.

Equally, Iriafen has exceeded expectations however is dealing with an uphill battle to steal the crown from Bueckers. She leads rookies in rebounding, however her 12 factors per recreation aren’t sufficient to border her because the league’s finest rookie. An All-Star look and All-Rookie choice, which is sort of assured, are extra then sufficient comfort.

Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm)

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A number of weeks in the past, a good friend of mine texted me “Dominique Malonga appears like she’s two years away from being two years away,” joking concerning the uncooked, typically flat nature of the French middle’s influence on the sport. Held to the excessive and harsh commonplace of being the No. 2 choose in a gifted draft class, Malonga has debuted under the expectations of most. Criticisms of her recreation, remoted from her prospect profile, are truthful. Nevertheless, Malonga wasn’t picked for her speedy influence—and subsequently shouldn’t be judged by it.

Malonga is 4 years and twenty-seven days youthful than Bueckers, that means when she’s now not “two years away from being two years away,” she’ll nonetheless be youthful than Paige at present is as a rookie. Malonga is a 19-year-old enjoying behind a 35-year-old former MVP on Seattle Storm’s depth chart. Even when she isn’t producing, she’s studying. Given their expertise, Seattle knew they might afford to spend a choose on a undertaking and nonetheless win basketball video games. Malonga deserves the grace of time, and her teaching workers is easing her into a much bigger function because the season progresses. She’s not a Rookie of the 12 months candidate, however that doesn’t imply she was the unsuitable choose.