Paige Bueckers steps onto the court in Connecticut for the first time as a professional player, marking a significant moment since her pivotal role in UConn's 12th national championship nearly two months ago.
After a successful homecoming in Minnesota last week, Bueckers now aims to secure the Dallas Wings' first victory of the season against the winless Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.
"It will be weird not stepping on this court with a UConn uniform," Bueckers remarked to reporters on Monday. "It’s something I’ll enjoy with a new team and organization. It’s great to be back, great to continue on this journey."
At Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Sun host their games, Bueckers boasts an impressive record of 15-0, including four Big East championships during her time at UConn. During Tuesday morning's shootaround, she effortlessly sank a halfcourt shot, a feat she has accomplished frequently in her rookie season.
"I have some great memories here. I don’t think we lost here in my UConn career, so we’ll try to carry those vibes over to this game and approach it with a winning mentality," she added.
Despite the Wings' challenging start with an 0-4 record, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft has made a strong impression, leading her team with averages of 13.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.8 steals.
"She just continues to do things that should be surprising but aren’t," said Wings coach Chris Koclanes. "I take a step back to appreciate the type of player and person she is."
Koclanes expressed admiration for Bueckers' mental approach and her commitment to developing leadership skills as a rookie. "She wants to really be a great leader and is committing time into developing those skills to help this culture and her teammates," he noted. "Her extremely high basketball IQ allows her to pick up concepts and reads very early, and she will adapt to the physicality of the league."
In her first homecoming game against the Lynx at Target Center last Wednesday, Bueckers recorded 12 points and 10 assists.
"We’re not setting expectations for ourselves, just taking it day by day," Bueckers stated. "Setting expectations limits what you can accomplish. We’re trying to grow in the film room, grow in the weight room, grow on the court, and grow with our chemistry. Staying optimistic and positive is key; we won’t let the last game affect the next one. We learn from the past and let it motivate us to be better."
The Dallas Wings will return to Connecticut on June 20 for their second and final matchup of the season.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is May 21, 2025.
