If you’re reading this, you probably already know—Paige Bueckers is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. And let’s be honest, that spot feels tailor-made for her. After a stellar collegiate career, capped off with a long-awaited national championship, Bueckers has done just about everything a college hooper could dream of. And the talk of the town? If Wings get Paige, it’s gonna be like Caitlin Clark all over again—bigger crowds, louder games. But here’s the twist, despite all signs pointing to Dallas, there’s a lingering sense that Paige might not be all in on the Wings.

Sure, she’s said all the right things. “I’m just excited for the next step in the journey, wherever that is, whatever that looks like. Just to be able to play in the WNBA—it’s a dream come true,” she told Today with a smile. But behind that polished poise, the buzz is loud. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Wings from pushing hard.

In fact, they’re not just crossing fingers—they’re actively pursuing her, even entertaining trade options to lock her in. “I am confident that if we draft Paige Bueckers, she will move the needle for the Dallas Wings and women’s basketball in North Texas,” said team president and CEO Greg Bibb. And honestly, he’s not wrong.

Bueckers isn’t just a gifted scorer—though her numbers speak for themselves: 19.9 points per game, 53.4% shooting from the field, a sizzling 41.9% from deep, and nearly 90% from the free-throw line. With Satou Sabally sidelined indefinitely and roster gaps looming, Paige could be the answer to Dallas’ need for a true offensive engine. She plays with poise, creates for others, and shoots with surgical precision. She’s the type of player you can build a franchise around.

But Bueckers’ impact goes far beyond the hardwood. “If you look at the ratings, if you look at the merch being sold, if you look at the attendance and venues—there are players that move those needles, and Paige Bueckers is one of them,” Bibb added. So, he’s not just dreaming big—he’s banking on Bueckers. Bibb even predicted, “We should have over 3,000 people at College Park Center to basically just watch the draft on the big board.” That’s no small feat for a draft watch party.

Bibb’s vision doesn’t stop there. He’s planning a full-on celebration, with Wings GM Curt Miller addressing fans and players hyping up the crowd. “At some point, Curt will come out and address the fans and say, hey, we drafted this player,” Bibb shared, adding that there’d be “some players in attendance who will talk to the crowd and some programming for the fans, but really just an opportunity for Wings Nation to get together and celebrate the moment together.” It’s clear the Wings see Bueckers as more than a player—she’s the spark to ignite their fanbase, much like CC.

He’s got a point. Even before the Caitlin Clark era took over headlines, Bueckers was already rewriting the viewership script. Remember that 2022 national title game between UConn and South Carolina? It drew 4.85 million viewers—the most-watched women’s championship since 2004 and the fourth-largest in-person crowd since 1996. That was the peak “Before Caitlin” (B.C.) era.

Come 2025, and much like the Indiana star’s effect from a year ago, Paige Bueckers is already turning heads in the WNBA, and she hasn’t even played a single game yet. “Much like last year, when we thought Caitlin Clark’s game was going to translate right away — and for the most part it did — Paige’s game is going to translate right away,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo recently said. “It’s going to be fun to watch because I expect a similar efficiency from her at the pro level.”

And she’s not wrong. Consider this: As soon as Dallas Wings got the 2025 first pick, the Wings saw a $50,000 spike in ticket sales. Season memberships? Sold out—five months earlier than last year. That’s the kind of buzz franchises dream about. It’s also reminiscent of what happened when Clark joined the Fever: a 320% attendance boost, a national media frenzy, and a fanbase that followed her from Iowa to Indiana overnight.

Even Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve couldn’t help but point out the unique pull Bueckers has. “Paige is going to be more of a stand-alone,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of company for her like there was around Caitlin. I don’t think there’s anybody close to making the impact [this season] that she will make on the Dallas franchise.”

So, the Wings have a future superstar on their hands. But here’s the twist: what about Paige’s younger self?

Paige Bueckers has the power to transform Dallas, but does she even want to?

For Paige, Wings just don’t seem like the dream destination. Sure, she’s been graceful about it in public, never one to stir the pot, but if you read between the lines, the signs are all there. How?? During a recent sit-down with Today, Bueckers was asked a pretty straightforward question: “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?”

To answer, she said any team would be a dream come true. But then came the real moment: “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.”

It should tell you a lot that she name-dropped her dream team, and it wasn’t the Wings.

And honestly, she’s not the first UConn star to have hesitations about Dallas. The whispers have been swirling for months now. So while Bueckers may be saying all the right things, fans and media alike can’t help but raise their eyebrows. When your answer feels more nostalgic than neutral, well… the message starts to sound a little louder.