Dallas Wings point guard Paige Bueckers is making her mark in more ways than one. After a whirlwind year that included a national championship at UConn, being selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft, and completing her rookie campaign with the Wings, the 23-year-old is now focused on strengthening her ties to Dallas.
Bueckers spoke with Dallas Hoops Journal during the DICK’S House of Sport grand opening in North Dallas, where she helped coach a youth 3-on-3 exhibition alongside teammate Arike Ogunbowale.
The weekend-long event also featured appearances by Dak Prescott and George Pickens, giving local fans a chance to see athletes from multiple sports.
For Bueckers, being part of the Dallas community goes beyond the basketball court.
“Just starting off not really knowing anybody, then building a community of friends and family—people who I might not call family, but who I hang out with every single day, go to war with, go to work with,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal.
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She added that she enjoys immersing herself in the city’s vibrant sports culture.
“I love going to sporting events—Stars games, Cowboys games, Mavericks, of course, Trinity FC,” she explained. “Every single team, I want to get out and support and just be one here. This is home base, and I love it here.”
Bueckers delivered a standout rookie season, averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 36 games — earning WNBA Rookie of the Year and a starting nod in the All-Star game. That production confirmed her status as one of the league’s brightest young stars, but she said her mission in Dallas extends off the court as well.
“It just provides a way for you to connect with the community and connect with the people that support you throughout the entire season,” Bueckers said. “I want to do that for the entirety of how long I’m here—just be one with the people and embrace being in Dallas.”
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Bueckers will spend the coming months in the city before heading to Miami in January for the inaugural season of Unrivaled. In the meantime, she is taking advantage of opportunities like the DICK’S House of Sport event to stay present and visible within the Dallas community.