The UConn Huskies are going into the next season as one of the favorite contenders to win the National title. Leading them is one of the best college basketball players at present– Paige Bueckers. While she snubbed the WNBA for another year with Geno Auriemma, the talented hooper remains a top projected lottery pick. And with one more team entering the expanding professional league, she just might go into the Golden State Valkyries. But does her connection with the purple color and Caitlin Clark’s teammate NaLyssa Smith have anything suspenseful going on?

Recently, the Fever forward NaLyssa Smith tweeted a photo of herself sitting in a purple car. The post got the attention of none other than Paige Bueckers who commented three fire emojis for the look. Consequently, Smith replied back to the guard, saying, “purple looks good on us.” Seemingly, this was enough to send the basketball world and the Caitlin Clark followers into a frenzy. Shutting down everyone’s assumption, Smith added a comment to another post saying, “u jus gotta let em be delusional.”

The two have been in touch which is apparent from their candid comments. In fact, they have publicly shown their uncommon connection over the purple color. Coincidentally, that is also the colorway for WNBA’s new team, the Golden State Valkyries. Adding more to the story is the Husky’s comment, “Prettiest colorway ever,” on the latest team’s post showing their gears. However, Smith is not becoming a restricted free agent until 2026, which means even if people wish her to ditch the golden rookie in the next season, she cannot. But does this mean that Paige Bueckers is certainly going into the Bay Area team?

Is Paige Bueckers the future Valkyrie?

The Golden State Valkyries will become the first expansion team since 2008 when Atlanta Dream was added to the league. However, they are very less likely to get a first-overall pick, which many believe Paige Bueckers will be. The Hopkins native was projected as the second overall pick in the 2024 draft class until she announced her stay in Storrs.

Additionally, if history is any proof, Chicago Sky, which became a team in 2006, got the sixth overall pick Candice Dupree. Something similar happened after a couple of years when the Dream entered the league in 2008. They got the option to pick the eighth overall Tamera Young. Nevertheless, if the Valkyries make a strong point, they just might trade their options to get the Huskies’ skillful hooper.

For now, Paige Bueckers is back in the gym to get some practice shots in for UConn. Looking at how the team performed throughout the last season and especially in March Madness, there is no denying that Geno Auriemma is highly likely to get a title for Connecticut. However, only time will tell whether NaLyssa Smith really wishes to leave Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.