Hometown hero is what they call her. You know, few people really don’t get the hype around Paige Bueckers turning pro, but that’s probably ‘cause they weren’t watching when her name was being put on NBA jumbotrons in high school. This is the same kid who had cameras chasing her before she even hit college. The No.1 recruit. The freshman superstar. And now, the No.1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. So obviously her hometown had to go all out. But looks like Soccer legend Kelley O’Hara isn’t exactly popping confetti over it.

Before we get into that, here’s what went down. The city council of Hopkins, Minnesota, announced that May 16 will officially be Paige Bueckers Day in honor of her WNBA debut. And for that one day, Hopkins is temporarily renaming itself to Paige Bueckers. Yes, you can literally say you’re driving to Paige Bueckers, Minnesota.

However,  O’Hara, who by the way is a two-time World Cup champ and Olympic gold medalist in USA Soccer, spoke up about the whole thing on the latest episode of ‘Just Women’s Sports’ Sports Are Fun!  And  she didn’t hold back.

“I don’t find this very interesting,” she said straight up. “I’m like, if you’re gonna name the city after me for a day, name it after me. Don’t just give me a day.” Shots fired but, like, the funny kind. It was more of a witty little jab than actual shade. Still, she kinda has a point.  A day is sweet but an actual permanent renaming is definitely something out of the world. 

We’ve seen cities named after the big guns — Washington, D.C. for George Washington, Houston, Texas named after Sam Houston. But obviously that’s not happening here. It’s a big shot. Still, even if O’Hara’s not hyped, the people of Hopkins can’t wait for the day to come.

After all, they’ve watched her grow into the superstar she is today. Her basketball journey really took off back at Hopkins High School, where she quickly gained national attention and made a strong case for being the top player in the country. She racked up some serious honors – Gatorade Player of the Year, Morgan Wooten Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, McDonald’s High School All-American… you get the picture. Not to forget Minnesota’s Miss Basketball. 

Obviously, she made the big move to Connecticut in 2020 to chase that basketball dream, but Minnesota will always be a part of her. Now, she’s taking her talents to Dallas and is ready to become the next big thing in the WNBA. And  even before stepping onto the court, she and Caitlin have already put the NBA on notice. 

Paige Bueckers and Clark lead the WNBA’s commercial boom

Women’s basketball is definitely riding a new wave of growth, and the commercial side of things is heating up. The collectibles market is seeing some serious shifts, with WNBA trading cards going for crazy prices now. 

When Panini dropped its 2024 Prizm set for the WNBA in February 2025, hobby boxes were flying off the shelves for around $1,200 each. Compare that to the $800 presale price for the 2024-25 NBA Prizm set, and you’ve got a 50% premium for women’s basketball cards.  

This is a big deal, as it marks a total flip in the sports memorabilia market. Leading this charge is none other than Caitlin Clark. PSA, the grading company, says Clark alone has over 105,000 graded cards since the 2024 WNBA season kicked off. To give you some perspective, Angel Reese, another 2024 WNBA rookie, is second with 7,200, and Paige Bueckers isn’t far behind with 6,400. PSA even recorded a 62% spike in graded WNBA cards in March 2025 compared to May 2024. 

This price jump is on par with some of the top NBA cards, proving that collectors are now seeing elite women’s basketball cards as premium assets. As for merchandise, the sales numbers are just as telling. Clark’s Indiana Fever jersey ranked second in sales for basketball jerseys across both the WNBA and NBA in 2024, only behind Stephen Curry. 

Now, with Paige Bueckers coming into the mix, her jersey sales are already showing big potential. If the competition between her and Clark isn’t already heated on the court, it’s definitely going to be a fun rivalry to watch in the merchandise game too. And if we keep the competition aside for a minute, when you combine their forces, both on and off the court, they bring that spotlight on W.

They’ll forever be compared, but together, they’re a powerhouse for the league’s growth.