UNCASVILLE — Paige Bueckers never lost a game at Mohegan Sun Arena during her five seasons with the UConn women’s basketball team. Now, in her first year in the WNBA, she’s looking to secure her first professional win and it may come in the same familiar arena.
Bueckers will return to Mohegan Sun this week, this time as a pro with the Dallas Wings (0-4), who drafted her No. 1 overall in 2025. They’ll face the also-winless Connecticut Sun (0-4) on Tuesday night (7 p.m., NBC Sports Boston) in a battle between two teams seeking their first victory of the season. For Bueckers, returning to Connecticut offers a sense of comfort as she navigates the early days of her WNBA journey especially in a venue where she built so many cherished memories.
“Mohegan always felt like a second home next to Gampel Pavilion,” Bueckers said after practice on Monday. “It’ll be strange not wearing a UConn jersey, but I’m excited for this new chapter. I loved my time here, and we never lost at Mohegan I hope to bring that same energy with me now.”
Indeed, Bueckers was a perfect 15-0 at the arena during her time at UConn, highlighted by four straight Big East Tournament championships. In 2025 alone, she averaged 22.3 points on 59% shooting along with 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game during the Huskies’ title run culminating in their 12th NCAA championship.
But her pro experience has brought a new reality: for the first time in her career, Bueckers is on a team without immediate championship expectations. The Wings went through a significant overhaul in the 2024–25 offseason, hiring a new general manager (Curt Miller) and a first-time head coach (Chris Koclanes). The current roster features four rookies and only three returning players from last season.
Despite their early struggles, Dallas is filled with highly competitive players accustomed to winning. Alongside Bueckers, who is averaging 13 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals through her first four games, the Wings have three other NCAA champions and eight players with Final Four experience. Notably, DiJonai Carrington never missed the playoffs during her four years with the Sun, and Myisha Hines-Allen helped the Minnesota Lynx reach the 2024 WNBA Finals.
“It’s been a challenge,” Bueckers admitted. “But we’re not putting limits on ourselves with expectations. We’re focused on daily growth in film, in the weight room, on the court, and with our chemistry. Every possession is a new opportunity. We’re not letting past games define us.”
Tuesday’s game is also a chance for the Wings to capitalize on the Sun’s slow start. Connecticut, led by first-year head coach Rachid Meziane, has seen major turnover and is off to its worst start since 2020. Only two players returned from the 2024 squad, and former UConn center Olivia Nelson-Ododa is now stepping into a starting role for the first time in her pro career.
Bueckers is looking forward to playing against her former college teammate, with whom she shared the court at UConn from 2020 to 2022.
“I know she’s going to try to block one of my shots we joked about that all the time back at UConn,” Bueckers said with a smile. “I’m really proud of her. She’s doing great in her new role, and we got to catch up the other night in Atlanta. It’ll be fun competing against her.”
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