The rumors of Paige Bueckers joining the Golden State Valkyries started in May when she shared their logo, name, and color scheme. Next, the Husky was seen with a purple-colored (Valkyries colorway) sweat drop in a Gatorade ad. To top that, she wore the lavender color suit to the ESPYs in Los Angeles. And the chants for her going to the extension franchise amplified when she was a guest on “A Touch More” podcast in the same building where the Valkyries had hosted an event. However, with the Valkyries’ developments, she might face problems in joining the franchise.

The Valkyries on Thursday announced that they will be making a practice facility in Oakland that will be inaugurated by 2025. The center is said to be over 30,000 square feet and previously was the training home for their brother franchise – the Golden State Warriors for 22 years. The venue will feature 17 basketball hoops, locker rooms, temperature pools, and a weight room. All these are expected to make the drill center an ideal spot for the growth of athletes. However, for Bueckes this might not be the perfect place.

Bueckers currently plies her trade for the UConn Huskies and plays her home games either at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion or at XL Center. The Gampel Pavilion has an area of 171,000 square feet as per the Huskies’ official website and has been the home to the UConn women’s basketball since its inauguration in 1990. This shows the Minnesota-born would lack by 141,000 square feet and might have adjustment issues.

The other court where the Huskies play their home games is the XL Center, which is 25,000 square feet, also less than the 30,000 square feet that the new practice arena holds. Hence, this might be a disadvantage to Bueckers who is not used to playing at such big stadiums. Therefore, it remains to be seen if she will be selected by the Valkyries and, if yes, then how will she adapt to the new place. However, recently she gave a subtle nod to joining the Bay Arena franchise through one of her responses.

Paige Bueckers looks hopeful of making it to the Golden State Valkyries

Bueckers, along with her teammate Azzi Fudd, participated in a debate at the Barclays Center. There, they were asked to choose between a game-winning three and a game-saving block. While Fudd took her time to respond, Paige ‘Buckets’ looked to have found her answer easily. The 22-year-old divulged that she would prefer going for a game-winning three, which doesn’t come as a surprise considering it hints at the Warriors’ star Stephen Curry‘s game tactic.

Curry, in the last season, scored an exemplary 32 shots from beyond the arc. Perhaps Bueckers wishes to be influenced by the ‘Baby-Faced Assasin’. The athlete brings more hope for the Valkyries fans, as she was recently seen practicing with Curry, whose team plays at the Chase Center, a place where the Valkyries have decided to build a locker room. She was also sitting courtside with the ‘Golden Boy’ in New York’s season finale against the Aces.

However, it will be interesting to see if Bueckers is still drafted by the Valkyries and whether she will be able to adjust to the new conditions. As of now, the Valkyries can concentrate on constructing their practice facility while Bueckers makes merry at the upcoming college basketball season.