In some ways, Paige Bueckers got lucky when it came to NIL: she was in college at the right time. But in other ways, she was always going to be one of the most successful hoopers of the NIL era simply because she's extremely talented.
Bueckers has obviously been more than well-compensated for her basketball prowess financially through the NIL system, but it turns out she gained knowledge in a few other areas too — including fashion and beauty. While speaking to Glamour in an interview published November 19, Bueckers reflected on how partnerships she made through NIL opportunities changed how she approached both.
The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year admitted to being a tomboy in high school, but that started to change in college. As she put it, "In high school, I would literally just wake up, brush my teeth, put my hair in a ponytail and call it a day," she explained. "But to be able to find different ways to express myself and have different ways to do my hair, have different ways to do my makeup, have different things that I can wear, I feel like it definitely started and bloomed from these NIL experiences."
Bueckers also recalled the first time she had her hair and makeup professionally done while at a shoot for a deal, something she said kicked off her interest in exploring what feels good to her and what her own style might be.
She also revealed that there is one family member she turns to for fashion and makeup advice: her younger sister. As she put it, "he does full makeup routines, whole hair routines, and she watches all the YouTube videos. So I really go to her for beauty advice."
Paige Bueckers will make her Unrivaled debut in 2026
Bueckers continued to gain more experience in the WNBA, especiall when she played alongside Dijonai Carrington on the Dallas Wings (Carrington was traded to the Minnesota Lynx before the season's end). She admitted Carrington wants to "beautify me and do the whole makeup routine and glam session" that hasn't happened — yet — but that could when the duo reunite at Unrivaled.
The Wings guard was drafted to the Breeze BC, one of two new teams playing in Unrivaled next year, alongside Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Kate Martin, and Aari McDonald.
The Breeze will be an exciting team to watch, but the roster is one of the youngest in the league. McDonald was drafted into the WNBA in 2021; Brink, Jackson, and Martin in 2024; and Malonga and Bueckers both made their debut this year.