“It’s something I dreamed about and for it to become reality is just crazy,” 18-year-old Paige Bueckers said after being named the 2020 Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year. And she wasn’t kidding. She has been manifesting and demonstrating greatness since day one. From winning a national title in her final season to turning pro as the No. 1 pick. It’s like she is watching her dreams unfold in real-time. Now the next big step is here. Fans are hoping she’s also been putting out those positive vibes for a successful rookie campaign. 

The future of the Dallas Wings officially begins with training camp kicking off on Sunday. While Huskies fans are still processing the fact that their UConn sisters won’t be running things on the court together anymore, Wings fans are loving the playful duo that’s already forming in Dallas. The Dallas Wings’ X account gave fans a peek into the squad’s fun energy, posting, “Letting our players be Admin… bare with us….”

You know what that means, right? The next few posts came straight from the players’ fingers. And of course, Paige Bueckers wasted no time being… just her as one of the first posts read, “DiJonai can’t guard me – Paige Bueckers.” Well, DiJonai Carrington responded with, “#GetPaigeSomeSunlight – DiJonai Carrington.” 

Fans couldn’t help but reminisce about that March 2021 Elite 8 game when Bueckers drove between Baylor defenders Queen Egbo and Carrington. But, obviously, these roasts are all in good fun. Chemistry is brewing already, and it’s all love and respect. Even in a media interaction, Carrington casually dropped, “I’m seeing that Paige can’t guard me,” likely while Bueckers was off-camera to just tease.

But then, the love and admiration started to pour out. “She’s a student of the game. Her IQ is super high. You don’t have to tell her things multiple times—it’s quick, we gotta execute it. She’s able to translate from the board to the court real quick. She understands basketball, understands reading defenses.” 

We know that she has been a baller since forever. Her ability to read defenses and process the game at such a high level has been impressive since day one, and it’s not going unnoticed now that she’s hitting the professional stage. Even Paige knows it. “I feel like I have a lot of knowledge for the game, I watch it a ton. I have a high IQ,” Bueckers once said.

Carrington was quick to add, “You know, [we] just kind of being there for each other and just reading off of each other, so I think it’s huge when you just have a good feel for the game.” She also highlighted how it’s more important at a high level, as nobody is going to teach you the basics. “You’re just going to have to feel it out, and I think she’s doing that really well,” the new Wings guard said.

Well, with all these praises pouring in, no wonder Bueckers is more than ready to make a splash in the WNBA. But as much as she’s hyped for her new team, she’s got a bit of a challenge ahead of her, especially with the changes in Dallas this offseason. The Dallas Wings have undergone a major transformation this offseason, with new players and a new sense of direction. Despite losing standout players like Natasha Howard and Satou Sabally, the team brought in new blood.

All eyes are on Miss Bueckers as the centerpiece of the Wings’ new identity. The combo of Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale offers so much versatility for the Wings, allowing Bueckers to play off the ball and take some of the pressure off her when defenses come for her. And she already seems to be getting along with her team. More like, they were hyped up even before she was officially drafted.

Remember Ogunbowale’s constant post about her excitement? Then, after Bueckers was officially drafted by the Wings, she wasted no time reaching out to her new teammate. She even commented on her post about winning the NCAA title, “congratssss tea**ate!!” Which, by the way, turned to ‘congratssss teammate’ on her draft post. 

So, with all these friendly vibes, we can expect chemistry on the court. Off the court, Bueckers has the chance to become the new face of the Dallas franchise, especially now that Luka Doncic has made his exit. But does Doncic agree? 

Luka’s WNBA favorite? Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers?

Now, if you were wondering how Bueckers fits into the Dallas narrative, here’s some context. It’s been almost three months since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that shocked the basketball world. 

Naturally, the trade sent shockwaves through the Dallas fanbase, leaving many feeling uncertain about what comes next. But Dallas’ new star might just be Paige Bueckers, thanks to the Wings drafting her No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft and already making her feel at home. Fans have been buzzing with excitement ever since, hoping that Bueckers will bring some of her massive college fanbase along for the ride in Dallas. So, when Bueckers was asked if she planned to take Luka’s place as the city’s next big star, she grinned and said she’s here to bring something new. 

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Caleb Pressley on Sundae Conversations, Luka was asked who his favorite WNBA player was. Without missing a beat, Luka picked Caitlin Clark. But then, the conversation turned to Paige. When asked about her, Luka responded with, “She’s okay. I didn’t see her play in the women’s NBA, so…” 

Pressley, quick on the draw, reminded him, “She just got drafted, Number one.” And as the conversation went on, Luka chuckled, especially when Dallas came up. Looks like Bueckers still has some proving to do to win over Dallas’ former basketball lifeline. But the odds are in her favor. She has a history of making an impact from the jump, and if anyone can prove themselves worthy of that trust, it’s Paige Bueckers.