The WNBA MVP Conversation Needs to Include Paige Bueckers

 

If you haven't started considering Paige Bueckers as a 2026 WNBA MVP candidate, then you better start now.

A 7-Game Run that Demands Attention

Why This Stretch Strengthened Her MVP Case

The past 7 games for Paige Bueckers have been nothing short of impressive. Averaging 24.7 points per game during this run, Bueckers has had a chip on her shoulder as she looks to increase her stocks in the MVP race. With recent MVP front-runners and top two in the W in scoring, A'ja Wilson out for the Las Vegas Aces' last few games as well as Los Angeles Spark's lead point guard, Kelsey Plum out for an extended period, all eyes have turned to Bueckers. Showing off every tool in her skillset, Bueckers has lit up the league and during her 7-game run of complete dominance, she has led the Dallas Wings to 5 victories. As electrifying as Bueckers' scoring ability has always been, she continues to put the world on notice with her ability to knock down shots in the midrange. It is in these times that Bueckers gets hot from midrange or behind the arc that she opens up the floor spacing for her teammates to succeed. Much more than a one-way player, Bueckers thrives off of dimes that she dishes to her teammates. During this 7-game stretch, Bueckers is also averaging 5.9 assists per game, just 0.1 short of her season average. This statistic shows that even when Bueckers isn't taking over games in the exact same way that she has recently, she continues to elevate those around her and put her team in the best position to succeed. To round out this unreal run for Bueckers, she also averages 4.7 rebounds per game which exceeds her season average of 4.1 rpg. If it isn't already clear, Bueckers is in the middle of a historic stretch that deserves recognition. Her production, efficiency, and impact have made her one of the most valuable players in the league, and her recent run has solidified her place in the MVP conversation.

Bueckers' Most Recent MVP-Caliber Performance

Even in the midst of averaging 23.2 points per game in the six games prior to the Dallas Wings' matchup with the Toronto Tempo last night, Bueckers continues to put on a show and further cement her place among the league's elite. Entering this matchup, the Dallas Wings were looking to take their second win over the Toronto Tempo this season. An exciting contest for all as the game was set in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, WNBA fans across the world also could not wait for Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings to face Marina Mabrey and the Toronto Tempo once again. Going back and forth and exchanging buckets off the jump, it was clear that we were in for a treat in this matchup as Marina Mabrey got hot and had already connected on 4 three-pointers in the first quarter. Bueckers also had her share of scoring in the first as she already had 10 points of her own. Although she had a strong start to the game with 10 points and 2 assists in the first and a total of 16 points and 3 assists in the first half, it wasn't until the second half that Bueckers would have herself a day. Putting up 11 points in the third and 7 points in the fourth quarter, Bueckers was on fire as she recorded 34 points on 13/22 shooting. although Toronto's Marina Mabrey was able to also put up 34 points, she did so on 10/18 shooting, 6 of which were three-pointers. An electrifying matchup to say the least, it was a big thanks to Paige Bueckers' 34-point 6-rebound and 6-assist game that the Wings were able to soar past the Tempo in a 108-95 victory. Performances like this are exactly why Bueckers has forced her way into the MVP conversation, as she continues to prove that her impact extends far beyond a single box score and that her seven-game surge is more than just a hot stretch- it is a statement.

Where Bueckers Fits Among the League's MVP Favorites

MVP Front-Runners: A'ja Wilson (LV) and Kelsey Plum (LA)

As previously mentioned, Paige Bueckers has been the loudest name in MVP talks since the sidelining of A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum. Prior to her ankle injury, Wilson had averaged (and technically still does) 25.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game. A league veteran, Wilson has not only the experience, but also the size as she stands at 6'4". This size and experience combined is the perfection pairing for a dominate center and rim protector. Having previously been a 4x MVP, Wilson knows what it takes to be at the top and prior to her injury, she had no signs of stopping. An even more experienced WNBA vet, Kelsey Plum is currently one of the most underrated scorers in the league. Behind A'ja Wilson and second in the WNBA in scoring, Plum averages 23.9 points per game along with 6.4 assists per game (both prior to her injury). In just her second season with the Los Angeles Sparks, Plum has separated herself as a legit scorer that must be at the forefront of a team's offense. Prior to her move to LA, Plum was ironically A'ja Wilson's sidekick for the Las Vegas Aces. In hopes to find a way to shine on her own, Plum was traded to the Sparks in the middle of their rebuild, a perfect scene for her desired success. Although injuries have impacted the MVP race, it is important to recognize that Wilson and Plum were not simply leading because of circumstance—they were playing at an elite level and had built legitimate MVP cases of their own. However, Bueckers' ability to emerge among this level of competition speaks volumes about the impact she has made. Rather than benefiting from the absence of other stars, Bueckers has used the opportunity to prove that she belongs in the same conversation as the league's best.

A New Name Among Familiar Faces

For over six years, A'ja Wilson has consistently been in the MVP conversation and has even won 4 MVPs over that period. While Kelsey Plum has seen immense improvement and stretched herself to be the lead scorer LA needs, this is truly her first season majorly in MVP talks prior to her injury. In just her second professional season in the WNBA, Paige Bueckers has already made a serious name for herself to become MVP. After last night's performance along with numerous others this season, there's no way Bueckers isn't included in MVP talks. In the recent 7-game stretch Bueckers has played, averaging 24.7 points (in this run) puts her at second in the league in scoring, between Wilson (1st) and Plum (3rd in this instance). That said, Bueckers' game is far more than an elite scorer, which both Wilson and Plum also have. Far beyond what the other lead candidates have, Bueckers is a facilitator and effective rebounder. Using her talents on both ends of the court, Bueckers truly maximizes her playing time and ability in every aspect of the sport of basketball. This season, Bueckers already averages more rebounds than Plum with 4.1 rpg and more assists than Wilson with 6.0 apg. While Wilson and Plum have established themselves as two of the league's premier talents, Bueckers' ability to impact every area of the game is what separates her case. She is not only producing at an elite scoring level but also creating opportunities for her teammates and contributing defensively and on the glass. For a player in just her second WNBA season to already match the production and influence of longtime MVP contenders is remarkable, and it is exactly why Bueckers has earned her place among the league's most valuable players. Quit sleeping on the Paige Bueckers.