Paige Bueckers will get double-double in return to Minnesota, however losses pile up for Dallas Wings

MINNEAPOLIS — Lower than a minute remained on the clock as Paige Bueckers held the ball in her arms in an all-too-familiar enviornment. Within the third WNBA sport of her budding skilled profession, Bueckers was capturing and dribbling in a venue that she performed in as a excessive schooler and school athlete. Her star was born lower than 10 miles from the Goal Middle in St. Louis Park and Hopkins Excessive Faculty. She is aware of how the ball bounces on this flooring and she or he is intimately accustomed to how the cheers and boos echo off the partitions right here.

As her Dallas Wings trailed by 5 factors, Bueckers pivoted and pulled the ball over to her left aspect and began her dribble. She dashed round a display screen, and out of the blue three Minnesota Lynx defenders had their eyes locked on her. In a decent sport like this, few would have blamed the rookie for going for glory whereas taking part in in entrance of numerous family and friends had Bueckers opted to pull-up for an extended shot or pushed into the enamel of the protection.

However Bueckers, the No. 1 general choose on this yr’s WNBA Draft out of UConn, is a lot smarter than that. She could also be simply three video games into her skilled profession, and she or he might solely be 23 years outdated, however the 6-foot Minnesota native sees the sport like a seasoned veteran. And so, she had two selections. Myisha Hines-Allen was rolling to the rim and appeared to have a brief head begin on Napheesa Collier — who briefly let Hines-Allen go to chop off a driving lane for Bueckers — or she might might dish it to Arike Ogunbowale, who was large open in 3-point land only a few toes away. Reasonably than problem Collier, the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr, Bueckers fed her backcourt mate.

Ogunbowale caught the move, gathered and fired in a seemingly single fluid movement and the ball fell harmlessly by means of the online. A set on the other aspect of the world, full of Bueckers’ household and associates clad in Wings’ gear, roared.

Dallas now trailed by simply two factors with 39.1 seconds left. A victory appeared inside attain.

“Simply me having the ball in my arms just a little bit extra, attempting to create performs for my teammates, for myself, and simply studying what the protection is giving,” Bueckers mentioned after the sport. “Lots of instances, we’re simply making the correct play as a workforce, so no matter that proper play appears like on that possession, that’s what we’re seeking to do.”

Alas, Collier sank two free throws to place the sport on ice for the Lynx of their home-opener, successful 85-81. However Bueckers’ dime within the remaining minute of the competition was vital as a result of it secured her first double-double as an expert, giving her 10 assists and 12 factors in her homecoming sport.

“It’s loopy to say I performed on this flooring in any respect three ranges… I’ve by no means let Minnesota go,” Bueckers mentioned. “However actually, if I’m being actual, I’m not fascinated with that in any respect once I’m on the market taking part in, I’m simply being within the current second.”

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It’s one of many first main milestones Bueckers has reached in her promising profession, and one she’ll doubtless keep in mind for some time.

“You attempt to put the whole lot into perspective. To see all of the little ladies and other people within the stands and understand, that was you, like 10 or 15 years in the past,” Bueckers mentioned. “So, you by no means take it as a right, how blessed we’re to have the ability to play on this league, to play at this stage and to be on this group. Simply extraordinarily grateful, and also you attempt to mirror that each single time you play with the fervour and pleasure and coronary heart that you just play with. So, you’re taking it and also you carry it with you wherever you go.”

Those that know Bueckers finest although all agree on at the very least one factor: This isn’t a participant that’s all that involved with particular person statistics, honors or accolades. She needs to win, and she or he needs to win usually, and she or he needs to win on the highest stage. It’s why few people ever noticed her happier than when she was slicing down a internet in Tampa, Florida, a couple of month in the past after main UConn to a nationwide championship. It’s why when Geno Auriemma subbed her off for the ground for the final time in her remaining sport as a Husky, tears flowed the corners of her eyes as she embraced the longtime UConn coach in an emotional hug.

It was apparent throughout the postgame press convention that dropping has been tough on Bueckers. Whereas she was in-uniform for UConn, the Huskies by no means misplaced back-to-back video games, a lot much less three in a row. Heck, UConn solely misplaced three video games all season this previous marketing campaign.

Between reporters asking questions, Ogunbowale pointed to the field rating in entrance of her, noting completely different numbers. Bueckers glanced at it, shrugged and gave non-animated responses to her teammate. The one piece of knowledge that mattered, the ultimate rating, wasn’t within the Wings’ favor.

“Coming again house is basically cool, and it’s an awesome expertise,” Bueckers mentioned. “However what we’re attempting to construct and what we’re attempting to do within the sport is extra necessary.”

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Individuals have requested Bueckers over the previous few weeks what probably the most tough adjustment has been from the faculty to the professional sport. It’s a standard query that rookies get and one which Bueckers has answered. However the true reply might don’t have anything to do with what Bueckers is and isn’t in a position to do on the courtroom. She’s nonetheless a sensible passer, a savvy defender, a strong shooter, and somebody who performs with a fiery competitiveness.

The distinction between taking part in in Storrs, Connecticut, and Dallas, Texas, is that Bueckers has to grapple with dropping very often. And it doesn’t look like that’s going to alter anytime quickly.

Dallas, to date, appears like a disjointed workforce. Along with drafting Bueckers, they introduced in a variety of new faces to place across the one regular star for the franchise over the previous a number of seasons, Ogunbowale. The Wings don’t play a standard middle, as a substitute choosing a lineup that principally options three forwards and two guards. They’ve a first-year head coach and a first-year basic supervisor. It’s an early and small pattern dimension, however the Wings rank within the backside of the league in most statistical classes.

It’s additionally not but clear whether or not Ogunbowale and Bueckers is usually a viable and profitable backcourt pairing. By means of three video games, the previous Notre Dame guard is capturing career-lows from the ground (30.4) and from 3-point vary (25.1).

That is all to say, issues would possibly worsen for Dallas earlier than they get higher. And it’ll be value keeping track of if Bueckers can proceed to play nicely even because the losses pile up.

“At some point at a time. That’s the motto I’m going with,” Bueckers mentioned. “Simply, each single day, I’m attempting to develop and get higher. As a workforce and as a corporation, we’ve the identical mindset.”

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On Wednesday night time again in her house state, Bueckers fulfilled Deion Sanders’ prophecy of how wanting good results in taking part in good. She confirmed as much as the Goal Middle and walked by means of the bowels of the world in an outfit created by the enduring Harlem designer Dapper Dan. The match, full with a customized zip jacket, is the product of a partnership with Sherwin-Williams to focus on their Loneliest Coloration of 2025: Radiant Lilac SW 0074. The paint producer calls it a “shade that evokes self-expression and colour confidence.”

It’s a becoming description and applicable that it’s Bueckers who’s main the marketing campaign to focus on the colour. As a result of this season for her won’t be about wins and losses. It might simply be about her proving to everybody that she’s destined for stardom within the WNBA, that she’s somebody a workforce can construct a championship-contending roster round, and she or he will be the very best participant on the ground.

“I feel Paige goes to be actually good,” Collier mentioned of a fellow UConn alum. “She’s a three-level scorer, she’s an awesome passer. You already know, rookie years are actually arduous, so I’d simply inform her that there’s going to be ups and downs. However from what I’ve seen, she’s staying aggressive.”

This season is likely to be about Bueckers sustaining her confidence, irrespective of how far the Wings fall down within the standings, and it is likely to be about Bueckers absolutely expressing the kind of participant she is and will be.