Paige Bueckers played her first WNBA game on May 2 when the Dallas Wings met the Las Vegas Aces at Notre Dame. Bueckers, who hit the court not even 30 days after winning the national championship with UConn in Tampa, hit 10 points in 23 minutes on the floor.
Bueckers had a solid game and was greeted with genuine excitement by fans at the Purcell Pavilion. While speaking to reporters after the game, Bueckers also made it clear she was just as excited to be there. "It's super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks ago to where I am today," she told ESPN. "But just soaking it up, enjoying every moment, getting used to new routines, traditions, new teammates, new organization, and just excited to play basketball again with this new group."
Paige Bueckers will have to adjust to the WNBA on the fly
Bueckers is a known finesse guard, and adjusting to screens in the league will be an ongoing process for the young guard — and unlike last year, when rookies had the benefit of the Olympic break, Bueckers will have to learn in real time.
This is something that Coach Chris Koclanes — who is also new to the Wings this season — is aware of. Ahead of the game, Koclanes told reporters he's encouraging Bueckers to stay in the moment and to not get too lost in the past or future. Like a lot of rookies before her, the pace of play in the league caught Bueckers off guard, especially when going up against an Olympian-stacked team like the Aces.
The core elements of Paige Bueckers' game are solid
But there's plenty of reasons to expect Bueckers to make the necessary adjustments and help lead the Wings to a season better than 2024. As she demonstrated against the Aces, her foundation — shooting, passing, and defense — is strong, and she handled the ball, dare we say it, like a pro.
Though it's worth noting that it's unlikely the Aces brought the full degree of their defensive power to the preseason game, they at least gave Bueckers a taste of what she can expect in the weeks and months to come. The Wings have a nice break before their season opener at home, but the team will face near-champions the Minnesota Lynx on May 16, and every member will need to be ready to bring their strongest game against a team that's out to prove they're championship-worthy.
The Wings need to make a few adjustments, and first and foremost definitely need to decide who will be the team's primary scorer, but Bueckers will be a major part of those changes and will benefit from the seasoned vets around her. The future is bright for the UConn graduate — just as soon as she can catch her breath.