Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings, seen her in a June 13, 2025, game against the Las Vegas Aces, has played more like a veteran than a rookie ahead of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
INDIANAPOLIS — Paige Bueckers has long been considered one of the most promising players in women’s basketball. Now, as she takes part in her first WNBA All-Star Game as the lone representative from the Dallas Wings, she’s soaking in the experience and living a dream come true.
“It’s just a blessing to be able to represent this city, this organization,” Bueckers said following her selection to Team Phee, led by fellow UConn alum Napheesa Collier. “I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m excited for the All-Star Game, just to be around so many great players, try to ask questions, be a sponge, and just soak it up as much as I can.”
Selected as a starter for Team Phee, the rookie guard has already made a strong impression in her first WNBA season. Through 18 games with Dallas, Bueckers is averaging 18.4 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field, 32.8% from three-point range, and 84.4% from the free-throw line.
For Bueckers, the All-Star honor is just one of many milestones in what’s already a memorable rookie season. Her journey from UConn to the WNBA has been marked by triumphs and challenges, including recovering from injuries that once cast doubt on how far she could go.
“If you could go back and talk to your younger self…what would you say to maybe 10-year-old you?” Meghan L. Hall of USA Today’s For The Win asked Bueckers ahead of All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings won the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for June 2025. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
“Just the journey that I’ve had, I would just say to appreciate it and to enjoy every single step and don’t skip a step,” Bueckers reflected. “There’s times in my life, the injuries at the time, I didn’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel. But looking back, they changed my life in a positive way, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
“My journey and the path that it took me on. So when I was younger, I thought I was invincible. No injury would ever touch me. I would just win every single game. But the failures are lessons, and you’re just learning and growing in so many different ways throughout everything in life. So, I just appreciate the journey.”
That appreciation shines through in every interaction and every performance. Her poise and perspective reflect a maturity that transcends her years. Bueckers’ ability to balance fun with focus, and competition with community, has made her a beloved figure not only among fans but also within her team.
Prior to the start of the 2025 WNBA season, Bueckers spoke with humility about what it meant to realize a childhood dream and wear a WNBA jersey.
“Every single day I try to stop and smell the roses a little bit and enjoy where I’m at, because there’s a lot of people that invested in me, a lot of faith and a lot of hard work that it took to get here,” she said. “Just to be living out my childhood dream and starting the next chapter… I’m thankful for it every single day. To be here in this organization with amazing teammates and amazing coaching staff, you just want to appreciate it every single day and never take it for granted.”
Bueckers’ fit in Dallas has been seamless. The rookie guard found a place in a locker room full of strong voices and seasoned leaders, yet she brought her own brand of energy to the mix.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings has been the team’s little sister figure with a veteran’s confidence. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)
“I’m like an annoying little sister that nags and bugs and annoys. But they love me for it, and they’ve already embraced that side of me,” she said with a laugh. “But then on the other side, there’s a seriousness to the level of competition they want to have at practice and games… and how much we want to get better as individuals, as a team. And they’ve welcomed me with open arms on and off the floor. Serious, unserious. Just being able to build that relationship with every single one of my teammates has been a lot of fun so far.”
Her transition into the league wasn’t just about adjusting to a new level of play—it was about building connections. For Bueckers, the heart of basketball lies in the relationships and shared experiences.
“Relationships are the most important piece to basketball,” she said. “I think just the people that I’ve got to meet along the way, the people who I’ve gotten close with, the people I can work with… Most of my friends and family are my basketball family. So I think they coincide with each other.
“So the relationships, the memories, experiences, the journeys, the testimony of highs and lows and building out your faith through that. It’s helped me build my faith, build my relationships. I’ve gotten to travel, see the world, I got to play for Team USA, the Junior Olympic team, play for my dream school [UConn], play here in the Dallas Wings. So many places in between. Just the relationship bonds and memories—they last a lifetime.”
Paige Bueckers values the relationships she’s built with her Dallas Wings teammates like Ty Harris (No. 52) and Maddy Siegrist (No. 20). (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
That bond is perhaps why this All-Star experience carries extra meaning for Bueckers. It’s a celebration not just of her individual talent, but of everyone who helped her get here: her coaches, teammates, fans, family, and the basketball community that rallied around her through every injury, comeback, and triumph.
As the weekend’s festivities continue in Indianapolis, Bueckers will walk onto the court not just as a representative of Dallas, but as a symbol of perseverance, humility, and joy. In a league filled with stars, she stands out not only for her play, but for her spirit. And as she continues to learn, grow, and lead, one thing is clear—this is only the beginning.
From a kid in Minnesota with a dream to a rookie All-Star in the WNBA, Paige Bueckers is exactly where she’s meant to be. And she’s not taking a second of it for granted.
Editor’s Notes
Meghan L. Hall of USA Today’s For the Win contributed to this article directly onsite from Indianapolis, Indiana.
To keep reading about how Paige Bueckers is elevating the Dallas Wings in her rookie season, including her leadership style, locker room chemistry, and emotional reflections from a tough road loss in Indy, become a TPF+ subscriber today!
