Dallas hardly wasted a second in rolling out the carpet for Paige Bueckers. Curt Miller was itching to make the pick, the city void of Luka Doncic awaited with bated breath, and looked like the sports stars had their messages typed out beforehand. But even after the champagne was popped and excitement made known, the UConn standout’s genuine sentiment about joining the team remained in question. You see, a few have the habit of reading between the lines, and one of Bueckers’ indirect claims wasn’t spared. But put that behind, because she has one solid assertion to get you on board.

Previously, when the Wings were handed the No.1 pick during the draft lottery, there went around a report that Paige was hoping to land with the Sparks. ESPN had reported that the LA based franchise was Bueckers’ “preferred destination.” What added fuel to the fire was her interview TODAY.

Just days before the draft, the UConn standout was asked, “Most people believe you will be the first pick in the WNBA Draft coming up in a few days here. Perhaps going to play in Dallas. How does that sound to you?” Well, it was all but given where she was headed. So people likely expected a response around the franchise. But Bueckers would rather opt for a middle ground, saying landing with any team would be a dream come true. However, she did go on to speak about her favorite franchise– the Minnesota Lynx.

“I was just a little girl aspiring to be in the league. The Minnesota Lynx dynasty was everything for me… to be able to share that experience and be a part of that is just—it’s surreal to say,” she shared. Now, Paige is a Minnesota native, and it would only make sense for her to bring up the home team, but dodging to speak her thoughts about Dallas may have raised a few eyebrows. Nevertheless, Bueckers is clear about her intentions to play with the city now.

“There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we’re really excited,” Paige shared in her introductory press conference. Only hours prior, she was welcomed with the hats and cowboy boots and Bueckers made it a point to not only flaunt the gifts, but also acknowledge the reception. “And plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots—we’re ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas,” she added.

It isn’t necessarily about the destination for Paige. It is about the opportunity, a chance to script history, a dream come true. Wherever she’d land, No.1 pick or not, the UConn star was ready to embrace the situation and deliver her best. At Dallas, she isn’t letting down that principle.

“You don’t want to take anything for granted or be entitled to anything, so you want to continue to stay motivated to work,” Bueckers added. “We’re here now. We’re in Dallas and super excited for the future.” That is all GM Curt Miller was awaiting to hear.

It all goes back to the draft lottery in November, when he was just hoping not to get the fourth pick. He would have even been okay with a top-three pick. But as the teams were called and the Wings did not hear theirs until the last minute, Miller burst out in excitement, jumping around his former assistant coach’s office. Because that was what he had secretly awaited all along.

“The big picture is—we knew what that meant. That we would have the opportunity to draft the No. 1 pick—Paige Bueckers,” Miller said. Well, all of this was super important too. After missing the playoffs last season, the Wings are under new leadership, hoping for a revival. And to achieve what the team has planned, Bueckers plays a crucial role.

The goal, Bueckers said, is “making Dallas a place everyone wants to be, and everyone who is already here wants to stay. Just building that culture, building that foundation of enjoying being around each other, playing together, being together on and off the court.”

Consider All-Star Game MVP Arike Ogunbowale—one of the top scorers in the league—paired with Bueckers? While Ogunbowale brings flexibility, being able to play both point and shooting guard, Bueckers could play off the ball more, reducing the pressure she faces from defenses. So, a win-win situation for the Wings.

But this didn’t happen all of a sudden!

Geno Auriemma’s role continues even as Paige Bueckers turns pro

As always, behind Paige’s every move is Geno—her former coach. The press conference didn’t just conclude with promising takes from the GM and Bueckers—it also revealed a little secret.

“No… we have great respect for Paige’s representation. We appreciated the message from the beginning. I am very, very close with Coach Geno… we knew that everything was trending positively,” the GM shared on the thought that Paige might not play for the Wings. So yes—everything was discussed beforehand to make sure nothing went wrong. But his role didn’t end there.

No one would probably know Bueckers better as a player than Auriemma. So when it came to Wings adapting to her while she did to them, he was the first person the franchise turned to.

“At the end of the day, just keep in mind that she wants to win just as much as you do,” Geno advised. “And she’ll spend more time in the gym than you do. So it’s a home run for both of them.” That was Auriemma’s advice for Wings coach Chris Koclanes on how to guide the scoring phenom. And of course, we know guiding one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball—who just won a national championship at UConn—won’t be easy.

But here’s Geno, always showing up for the player. And now, there are no assumptions. Just forward momentum. It’s time to nail it all!