Paige Bueckers: A New Era Begins with the Dallas Wings
In a moment that will be etched in the annals of WNBA history, the Dallas Wings made a monumental decision by selecting Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. This decision, announced on a Monday that will be remembered by fans and analysts alike, marks a significant milestone for both Bueckers and the Wings.
Bueckers, a former star of the UConn Huskies, joins an elite group of players who have been drafted No. 1 overall and have also won a national championship in the same year. According to ESPN Research, she is the sixth player to achieve this feat, with five of those six players having attended UConn. Last season, Bueckers was the only Division I player to score or assist on 30 points per game while maintaining a 50% field goal percentage and a 40% three-point field goal percentage.
Joining the Wings, Bueckers will play alongside a formidable lineup that includes four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, as well as recent signings DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, and NaLyssa Smith. The anticipation surrounding this new team dynamic is palpable, and the sports world is buzzing with excitement.
Reactions from Future Teammates
The announcement of Bueckers joining the Wings was met with enthusiasm from her future teammates. DiJonai Carrington expressed her excitement on social media, tweeting, “SAYYY GO WINGSSS @paigebueckers1 🤭💙💚” along with a celebratory image. Arike Ogunbowale chimed in with a tweet saying, “yesssir!!! it’s time 😈 @paigebueckers1,” capturing the excitement of the moment. NaLyssa Smith also welcomed Bueckers with open arms, tweeting, “LETS DO IT P5 .. welcome to the Family! 🙂↔️🙂↔️🙂↔️🙂↔️🙂↔️🖤🖤🖤 @paigebueckers1.”
Local Love from Dallas Sports Teams
The excitement wasn’t limited to the Wings’ roster. Local sports teams in Dallas also extended a warm welcome to Bueckers. The Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, and Texas Rangers all took to social media to celebrate the arrival of the new Wings star. The Dallas Stars tweeted, “Welcome home to Dallas, Paige! 🤩@DallasWings x #TexasHockey,” highlighting the city’s excitement for Bueckers’ arrival.
Wider Sports World Reactions
The broader sports community also joined in the celebration. Nike Basketball and UConn Women’s Basketball both shared their congratulations, while NCAA March Madness tweeted, “Congratulations to the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers, who was selected by the Dallas Wings! #NCAAWBB x #WNBADraft x @UConnWBB.”
As Paige Bueckers embarks on this new chapter with the Dallas Wings, the excitement and support from her teammates, local sports teams, and the wider sports community underscore the impact she is expected to have in the WNBA. The anticipation is high, and fans are eager to see how Bueckers will shape the future of the Wings and the league as a whole.
Originally Written by: ESPN staff
