Paige Bueckers Excels in WNBA Debut for Dallas Wings

DALLAS — Paige Bueckers made her highly anticipated WNBA debut with the Dallas Wings on Friday night, showcasing her skills against the Minnesota Lynx. Despite a rough start, Bueckers contributed 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in her first game, a commendable effort considering she was playing against seasoned professionals and former champions.

Before the game, Napheesa Collier, a fellow UConn alumna, sent a supportive text to Bueckers wishing her luck. “Good luck tonight! Don’t do too much against us, wait till your next game!” Collier wrote. Bueckers, however, was eager to prove herself after missing an entire season in college due to injury.

“Being able to have a starting point and then continue to build off that… means that we got a lot more left to go,” Bueckers said after the game, expressing her desire to improve. The Wings lost the matchup with the Lynx, but the excitement around Bueckers was palpable, with her jerseys already selling well at the College Park Center.

During the game, her family was present, and she received an emotional surprise when her hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota, announced it was renaming itself “Paige Bueckers” for the day.

Bueckers acknowledged the adjustment required at the professional level, particularly when defending against bigger players like Collier, who scored 34 points. “The size of WNBA forwards is something I have to get used to,” she said. Coach Chris Koclanes praised Bueckers for her composure and ability to handle game pressure. “She’s special in how she’s able to handle things with such grace,” he remarked.

Despite the buzz surrounding her debut, Bueckers still faces the challenge of adapting to her new role and facilitating teamwork with her fellow Wings players, like Arike Ogunbowale. The duo struggled to create scoring opportunities together, registering only one assist between them during the game.

While there were signs of growing pains, Bueckers remains optimistic about her trajectory in the league. “Just getting to the dream is not enough, so I want to continue to build on that,” she stated, showing her confidence in her potential to evolve as a professional player.