Former UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers got a taste of the difference between college basketball and the pro league, as she started training camp with teh Dallas Wings in preparation for the tip-off of the 2025 season.
In an interview, Paige Bueckers got honest about the difference she felt in playing college basketball versus facing the pros and the veterans from her new team, the Dallas Wings.
“Honestly, screens I got hit by,” Bueckers said about the biggest difference she felt. That would be like the first, like, ‘Wow, yeah, this is different.’”
“And obviously, the floor is a little shrinked, you’ve got defensive three seconds in the lane, offensive three seconds in the lane. So that’s a little bit different. And then the pace, and obviously the physicality of stuff they let go in the W.”
I asked Paige Bueckers about the biggest difference between college and pros so far…
“Those screens I got hit with today.” 😯 #WNBA #WNBATwitter @DallasWings pic.twitter.com/AYQD2YgBMe
— Dorothy J. Gentry (@DorothyJGentry) April 27, 2025
During her final season with the UConn Huskies, Paige Bueckers 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. She showcased her defensive prowess with 2.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per contest, all while maintaining an impressive 53.4% field goal percentage, 41.9% three-point shooting, and 88.9% accuracy from the free-throw line.
Across 38 games, Bueckers accumulated 756 total points and 176 assists, leading UConn to a national championship and earning individual honors such as the Nancy Lieberman Award and the Wade Trophy.
Paige Bueckers on Joining “New” Dallas Wings
UConn star player Paige Bueckers joined the Dallas Wings at an opportune time, as the franchise recently underwent major changes. As Bueckers embarked on a new chapter in her career, so did the Wings on a new page in their book.
“There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we’re really excited,” Bueckers said at the Wings’ rookies’ introductory news conference. “And plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots, we’re ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas.”
The Dallas Wings have undergone significant leadership and ownership changes in recent months. One of the biggest moves was the hiring of Curt Miller as the team’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. Additionally, the Wings parted ways with head coach Latricia Trammell after two seasons.
With her getting picked by Dallas, Paige Bueckers joins an elite group of former Huskies who have earned the top spot in the draft. Other UConn players who have been selected No. 1 overall include Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
