From the moment Paige Bueckers was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings, the hype has been real—and deserved. The former UConn phenom has long been pegged as the next face of the WNBA, and now she’s bringing her game to the big leagues.
But during her rookie introductory press conference, Bueckers wasn’t just soaking in the praise. She was sending it out too—specifically toward Dallas Mavericks superstar Kyrie Irving, who she called her favorite player.
“I would like to see Kyrie at a game for sure,” Bueckers said with a smile, extending an open invite to the eight-time NBA All-Star.
Paige Bueckers says she wants to see Kyrie at a Wings game this upcoming season 👀
(via @JoeyMistretta_) pic.twitter.com/JmePjdhhFd
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) May 7, 2025
Irving has been a strong and vocal supporter of women’s basketball for years, and if he pulls up courtside for a Wings game this season, it would be a full-circle moment for Bueckers. Not just a shout-out, but a major nod from a player she’s modeled parts of her game after.
And while she’s hopeful for that Kyrie sighting early in the season, Bueckers knows time is on their side. “We’ll both be in Dallas for a while,” she added, knowing the opportunity to connect—on or off the court—is very much alive.
Paige Bueckers Relates to Kyrie’s ACL Battle: “We Can Support Each Other”
There’s a deeper reason why Paige Bueckers feels so connected to Kyrie Irving—and it’s not just fandom
Both stars share a painful chapter in their careers: a torn ACL. Bueckers suffered her left ACL injury during a pickup game at UConn in 2022, missing the entire season. Irving tore his left ACL earlier this year during the Mavericks’ March 3 matchup against the Kings.
“He’s been my favorite player forever now. Super excited to be in the same city as him. Hope I can learn a lot from him,” Bueckers said. “I know he is going through an ACL journey himself, so to be able to lean on and support each other through that, I think it’s something that can be motivating.”
Now fully healthy, Bueckers returned to lead UConn to a national championship before declaring for the WNBA Draft. With Kyrie still recovering and Bueckers just starting her pro journey, a shared story of resilience is something both athletes can bond over as they represent the city of Dallas on basketball’s biggest stages.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
