Welcome to the pros, Paige Bueckers.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft made her much-anticipated debut on Friday as the Dallas Wings faced off against the Las Vegas Aces in preseason action. Bueckers finished with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 23 minutes, giving fans a first real look at what the former UConn star brings to the league.
The Wings may have taken a lopsided 112-78 loss to the defending champs, but the spotlight remained on Paige Bueckers—and she didn’t seem too fazed by it.
“I don’t see myself as a celebrity at all,” Bueckers told reporters postgame. “Just a basketball player.”
That humility stands out, especially considering her name’s been headline material for years. Before even stepping onto a WNBA court, Paige Bueckers had already become one of the most marketable athletes in women’s college sports, boasting a $1.4 million NIL valuation and brand deals with Nike, Gatorade, Crocs, Dunkin’, and more.
But now, it’s back to business.
“There wasn’t a lot of time to prepare,” she admitted. “Just leaning on what’s gotten me here and building on that.”
Paige Bueckers + the Wings = A New Era
Paige joins a Dallas Wings team looking to bounce back from a 9-31 record last season. The front office has made some bold moves, pairing Paige Bueckers with offensive sparkplug Arike Ogunbowale and versatile wing DiJonai Carrington. It’s a squad built to compete, and Bueckers is ready to rise with them.
“It’s super surreal … just excited to play basketball again with this new group,” she said, via Moreau Sports.
While the pace and physicality of the WNBA is a big jump from college ball, Bueckers is already making adjustments. Her poise, efficiency, and leadership all showed in flashes—even in a blowout loss.
She’s also stepping into some pretty big shoes. Paige Bueckers joins a legendary list of UConn alums in the league: Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart—you name it. But the vibe is clear: she’s not here to mimic. She’s here to make her own name.
If Friday’s debut is any indication, Paige Bueckers is more than ready to turn the page—and write her own chapter.
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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. Dur
