Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings had another solid 21-point performance against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — In a building where she became a household name during her storied UConn career, Paige Bueckers delivered a poised, all-around performance in front of familiar faces as the Dallas Wings edged the Connecticut Sun, 86-83, on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Bueckers, drafted number one overall in this year’s WNBA Draft, played 37 minutes and led the Wings with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-7 from the free throw line. She added seven assists, two steals, and two rebounds, showing off her signature poise and playmaking throughout an emotionally charged second return to Connecticut.
“Yeah, it’s fun coming back here every single time. They’ve always shown so much love to me, and it’s been a state that’s done a lot for me,” Bueckers said. “So it’s always amazing to come back and to get another win here, continue to keep building on what we’ve been doing as a team, and keep striving for better. I think we learned a lot through this game, and it was a full team victory, so that was fun to play that way.”
Dallas (3-11) leaned on Bueckers’ steady presence early, as the rookie scored 16 of her 21 points in the first half. She operated with control against Connecticut’s physical perimeter defense, threading passes through tight windows and keeping her teammates engaged.
Friday marked Bueckers’ fourth 20-point game in her last six outings, continuing a stretch of consistency that has catapulted her into elite company among WNBA rookies and veterans alike. As of Friday night, Bueckers ranked 12th in the WNBA in points per game (18.0), sixth in assists per game (5.9), and second in steals per game (2.1).
Bueckers is not just making noise for a rookie—she’s legitimately producing like a top-tier guard across the entire league.
“She’s continuing to get more and more confident each day into her voice and into her role as a leader that this team needs,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said.
Aziaha James contributed 17 points and five assists, while NaLyssa Smith added 12 points and seven rebounds. Off the bench, Li Yueru had an impactful outing with 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
The Wings entered the night short-handed, with Maddy Siegrist (right knee) and Tyasha Harris (left knee) both sidelined due to injuries. Koclanes praised Bueckers’ leadership and adaptability despite being just a month and a half into her professional career.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings continues to flourish in her rookie WNBA season. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)
“It’s what makes her special,” Koclanes said. “Tonight, we’re in that game and she carries us the first half. has an incredible first half scoring-wise, and then doesn’t have a field goal in the second half, but has five assists and plays fantastic defense and continues to find ways to impact the game and make winning plays.”
Connecticut (11-3) was led by veteran Tina Charles, who scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed six rebounds. The Sun nearly mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, trimming a 10-point Dallas lead to one with just over two minutes left after a pair of free throws by Charles.
Meanwhile, Marina Mabrey, facing her former team, struggled from the field but contributed eight points and a team-high six assists. Jacy Sheldon, drafted by the Dallas Wings as last year’s fifth overall pick, tallied 10 points.
Whether it was a strong first half or finding ways to involve her teammates in the second half, Bueckers has embraced her WNBA journey not only as a rookie but as one of the leaders of the Wings.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings strives to be her best self on any given game night. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)
“It’s been a new journey and a new challenge. It’s different than anything that I’ve ever been through as a player and as a person, just coming in trying to earn everybody’s respect, but also lead and be a great teammate,” Bueckers said. “That challenge has been fun in itself—trying to find my voice, find my way, find my role on the team. And it’s been just fun to build new relationships and just embrace the city, embrace being on this team.”
Dallas shot 43.3% from the field and made 80% of its free throws, including 6-of-6 from Li and 7-of-8 from James. The Wings also held a 42-29 rebounding advantage and scored 23 assists on 29 field goals.
Despite shooting just 42.2% from the field and committing 12 turnovers, Connecticut remained within striking distance, fueled by its balanced scoring and pressure defense.
While the Wings still face a challenging road ahead without Siegrist, Bueckers continues to emerge as one of their most reliable and mature pieces. Her consistent scoring, top-10 rankings in key categories, and ability to adjust within games underscores the star trajectory she’s on—just over a month into her professional career.
Dallas heads to Washington to take on the Mystics at CareFirst Arena this Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT), while Connecticut travels to face the Atlanta Dream.
With every game, Bueckers isn’t just proving she belongs in the WNBA — she’s emerging as a defining force for the Wings’ future
Editor’s Notes
Terrill Covey contributed to this feature story directly onsite from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
