Paige Bueckers may be the clear frontrunner for WNBA Rookie of the Year, but she isn’t one to assume anything. “I don’t really like to live with expectations. I try to focus on each day as it comes,” the 23-year-old told PEOPLE while discussing her new partnership with Intuit for Education. “My goal is just to be the best version of myself and embrace every moment.”
Only five months removed from winning a national championship with UConn, the Minnesota native is balancing highs and lows while leading a struggling 9-34 Dallas Wings squad. “What I’ve learned is to always have gratitude, no matter the situation,” she explained.
Despite the team’s rebuilding stage, Bueckers has been a bright spot, averaging 19.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Just three weeks ago, she broke the rookie single-game scoring record with 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks. Still, she admits there’s always more to refine. “I’m a perfectionist, and perfection is impossible, so I’m constantly finding areas to improve,” she said.
Bueckers acknowledges her growth over the year, pointing to film study, extra reps, and repetition as reasons for her progress. Off the court, she also confirmed her relationship with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd.
Through her collaboration with Intuit, she’s now helping students strengthen their financial literacy, a challenge she remembers well from her college days. “Managing money for food, gas, classes, and textbooks can feel overwhelming without the right resources,” she said.
Her rookie season has also brought surreal moments, including interactions with stars she once admired. When Caitlin Clark was sidelined in June, Bueckers seized the spotlight with a historic stat line: 27 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and no turnovers the first of its kind in WNBA history. Afterward, she chatted with Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, her childhood basketball idol.
She also met actor Shemar Moore following her record-setting game against the Sparks, sharing a warm hug and mutual admiration. Reflecting on these experiences, Bueckers admits, “I feel like I’m living my childhood dreams. Sometimes I have to pinch myself.”
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