The woman they call Paige “buckets” Bueckers made her first appearance in a Dallas Wings uniform on Friday night in South Bend, Indiana.
Bueckers, the Wings’ No. 1 overall draft pick in this spring’s WNBA draft, showed flashes of why she’s one of the most highly anticipated prospects in WNBA history.
In an underwhelming 112-78 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Notre Dame’s campus, Bueckers scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 2-for-3 on 3s. She also contributed four rebounds and 1 assist.
Bueckers’ first basket in a Wings uniform came on a left-handed scoop while driving to the hoop in the first quarter.
Paige Bueckers scores her first ever WNBA preseason bucket. Welcome to the league, rook ✨
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— WNBA (@WNBA) May 2, 2025
In speaking to reporters after the game, Bueckers said, “It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was around two weeks ago to where I am today … Just excited to play basketball again.”
It’s been less than a month since Bueckers and UConn defeated South Carolina to win the program’s 12th national title and just over two weeks since the WNBA draft.
JJ Quinerly led the Wings with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, Maddy Siegrist chipped in 11 and Aziaha James, the 12th pick in this year’s draft, added 10.
Star guard Arike Ogunbowale scored 5 points in her return to Notre Dame.
The Wings and Bueckers’ next preseason game will be against the Japanese pro-team Toyota Antelopes on May 10 at College Park Center in Arlington.
Find more Wings coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
