MINNEAPOLIS — With less than a minute left in the game, Paige Bueckers had the ball in her hands in a place she knew well. Playing her third WNBA game, she found herself back in the same arena where she once starred as a high school and college athlete. Born just miles away in St. Louis Park and a Hopkins High School alum, Bueckers knew this court and the energy of the crowd intimately.
Trailing by five, Bueckers weaved through a screen, drawing the attention of three Minnesota Lynx defenders. Many in her shoes might have taken the shot, especially in front of a hometown crowd. But the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft chose the smarter play. Rather than force a contested shot, Bueckers dished to teammate Arike Ogunbowale, who drained a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to two with 39.1 seconds left.
Though the Lynx eventually secured an 85-81 win with two late free throws, Bueckers’ assist marked a milestone: her first professional double-double, with 12 points and 10 assists. “I’m just trying to create for my teammates and read the defense,” Bueckers said. “It’s about making the right play.”
For Bueckers, returning home was emotional. “It’s surreal to have played here in high school, college, and now the pros,” she said. “But when I’m on the court, I’m focused on the game, not the moment.”
Bueckers is already showing signs of stardom, but she’s not chasing stats or personal accolades. Her priority is winning something she did often at UConn, where losing three games in a season, let alone consecutively, was rare. The adjustment to pro basketball has been tough, especially as the Wings struggle to find their rhythm.
Ogunbowale, the franchise’s longtime star, is off to a slow shooting start, and the team under a new coach and GM is still figuring things out. Without a traditional center and featuring several new faces, Dallas currently ranks near the bottom in most league stats.
Whether Bueckers and Ogunbowale can thrive as a backcourt duo remains to be seen. But regardless of the losses, Bueckers is committed to growing. “One day at a time,” she said. “We’re trying to get better every day.”
Off the court, she continues to shine. For Wednesday’s game, Bueckers arrived wearing a custom Dapper Dan outfit as part of a campaign with Sherwin-Williams, showcasing the “Loneliest Color of 2025,” Radiant Lilac a shade meant to embody self-expression and confidence. That symbolism seems apt: this season may be less about wins and more about Bueckers proving she can be the cornerstone of a franchise.
“She’s going to be really good,” said Lynx star Napheesa Collier, a fellow UConn alum. “She can score at all levels and pass well. Rookie years are tough, but she’s staying aggressive.”
For Bueckers, the season may be about weathering adversity, finding her voice, and showing the WNBA just how high her ceiling really is.
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