Dallas Sports Extend A Warm Welcome To Paige Bueckers After Signing With Wings

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 30: Paige Bueckers #5 to head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

After UConn women’s basketball superstar Paige Bueckers became a Dallas Wing, some of Dallas’ biggest stars welcomed her to town.

Bueckers, considered one of the brightest young basketball stars, led UConn to the national championship just eight days before the Draft. However, the pick had been anticipated since November, when the Wings beat the odds to win the WNBA’s first overall pick in the draft lottery.

Bueckers has been a unanimous first-team All-American three times. She won the Wade Trophy in 2025, presented to the best upperclass women’s basketball player in the NCAA, and, with 19.9 points per game, she holds the highest scoring average in UConn history. Bueckers isn’t just good – she’s potentially generationally good. And Dallas is ready.

Every team in the metroplex, from the Cowboys to the Stars to FC Dallas, welcomed Bueckers to DFW in social media posts.

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The Cowboys and the Mavericks each had video messages from players as well. Cowboys stars Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons represented their team, while Anthony Davis and Bueckers’ childhood favorite player Kyrie Irving spoke for the Mavs.

“Congratulations on being the No. 1 pick,” said Parsons. “Super extraordinary feat. Aye, I need a jersey. Can’t wait to see you and Arike [Ogunbowale] ball out. I think y’all about to change it around. Let’s go.”

“I just wanted to take the time out to congratulate you on being drafted, especially to the Dallas Wings,” said Irving. “I’m so excited for your journey ahead…So happy and proud of you…the way you carried yourself throughout all of your obstacles and challenges, and more so proud that you were able to turn the page on the chapters of this story that you’re writing.”

Irving’s message was a heartfelt one, and referenced an obstacle – Bueckers’ ACL tear, which sidelined her for the entire 2022-23 season – that he can certainly relate to. Irving’s season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in early March.

For a city that’s still hurting in the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade, Bueckers is a breath of fresh air. While they’re still one year off finishing second-to-last in the WNBA, one thing’s for sure: the Dallas Wings will be fun this season.