Might 7, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers poses for a photograph in the course of the 2025 Dallas Wings Media Day. Necessary Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos
Paige Bueckers grew up simply exterior of Minneapolis, the place she shined at basketball and admired the Minnesota Lynx.
Now, Bueckers is about to make her WNBA debut towards the staff she grew up watching. The Dallas Wings chosen her with the No. 1 general decide on this yr’s draft, and he or she is raring to start out her profession Friday night time when the groups tip off in Arlington, Texas.
“It is tremendous ironic,” Bueckers stated. “Life actually comes full circle, and God works in mysterious methods. However simply to be right here in Dallas embracing a brand new staff, a brand new metropolis, a brand new group, after which the opening recreation being towards the dynasty that I seemed as much as a lot rising up, (it is a) actually full-circle second for certain.”
Dallas is hopeful that Bueckers can present a jolt to a staff that went 9-31 final season. She joins a backcourt that includes Arike Ogunbowale, who ranked second within the WNBA final yr with 22.2 factors per recreation.
In the meantime, Minnesota is trying to construct upon a stellar marketing campaign by which it went 30-10 in the course of the common season and reached the WNBA Finals, the place it misplaced in 5 video games towards the New York Liberty.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve stated final season’s success wouldn’t promise to hold over into this season. She informed her gamers that they must earn it in the event that they need to have one other shot at a championship.
“That is precisely what we talked concerning the first day (of coaching camp),” Reeve stated. “Every iteration of the Lynx is totally different. Issues change. Life hits folks. There are numerous explanation why issues aren’t precisely the identical. So it’s important to work out what this staff is.”
Few would debate Minnesota’s expertise. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 20.4 factors and 9.7 rebounds final season and was runner-up for league MVP. She is again to guide a staff that options depth and expertise.
“There may be stress (this season),” Collier stated. “The stress is from understanding what we’re able to. However I’ve all the time stated I like stress. I feel it helps you carry out to your greatest self.”
Bueckers would possibly really feel stress to stay as much as her standing because the No. 1 general decide, however she could have help on the Wings. Some new faces embody DiJonai Carrington — whom the Connecticut Solar traded to Dallas after she averaged 12.7 factors and 5.0 rebounds and gained WNBA Most Improved Participant — and Myisha Hines-Allen, who averaged 7.8 factors and 4.7 rebounds final season with the Washington Mystics and the Lynx.
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