Paige Bueckers is one of the youngest players in the WNBA and on Team USA, but that doesn't mean she isn't emerging as a leader. This is especially true as the latter group prepares for the World Cup Qualifiers in Puerto Rico next week.
Though Team USA is also qualified for the FIBA World Cup in September, the team is participating in the tournament to build chemistry and to work together. That's an opportunity the players don't always get, especially since they often play on different teams in the W.
Bueckers admitted FIBA basketball is just "a different brand of basketball" while speaking to reporters during training camp. The stakes are higher, which means athletes tend to put even more effort into their performances. “It’s very physical, very competitive, and people are representing their country. So they’re obviously playing with a lot of passion, joy, and fire," she explained.
Bueckers is making her senior Team USA debut
Bueckers is among a short list of four players who are making their senior Team USA debut next week (the list also includes Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Kiki Iriafen). As a UConn graduate, she's well aware of the impact her fellow alum Sue Bird, the managing director of Team USA, and Diana Taurasi have had as Team USA athletes.
“I think about players like Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird going to UConn and being some of the most decorated USA Basketball players ever,” Bueckers said. “DT has six gold medals — that’s insane. That’s so many years of dominance. They set the stage for what we want this to look like — the competitive fire, the winning, the pride and passion you have for wearing USA.”
She added that she's enjoyed learning how to lead as a professional player, something that's turned out to work out differently than it did in college. Bueckers played at UConn for five seasons, which gave her plenty of opportunities to guide her team. She added that playing in the second season of Unrivaled for the Breeze BC also afforded her plenty of lessons.
“Leading professionals is a lot different than leading in college,” Bueckers explained. “Everyone has their own way of doing things. We’re all pros. So finding my voice and learning how to communicate with people in different ways and building relationships with them so I could lead effectively — that was huge.”
Bueckers was asked plenty of questions about Bird, who she described with glowing terms. It turns out that though she considers herself fairly loud, Bird told Bueckers she needs to make her presence at training camp known.
Team USA has an excellent World Cup record
The United States has one 11 FIBA World Cups, and including the last four consecutive tournaments. The team will begin play on March 11 when they face Senegal, and then will play opponents including Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain. Bird will chose the players who will represent the U.S. in Berlin in September, and also the players who will make the roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.