Paige Bueckers isn’t one to sit still. As one of the WNBA’s brightest young stars, the Dallas Wings guard has spent her first professional offseason making headlines both on and off the court.
From attending Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks games to celebrating her alma mater’s national championship at UConn, Bueckers has made it clear she’s enjoying the spotlight.
But her latest move, a surprise trip to London, has fans buzzing for an entirely different reason.
The 24-year-old WNBA Rookie of the Year was spotted at the Emirates Stadium in North London, watching Premier League giants Arsenal take on Crystal Palace.
It marked her first live European soccer match, and Bueckers even joined the club’s official pre-match broadcast, where she revealed her growing affection for the sport, and for Arsenal.
“I guess you are not an Arsenal supporter yet?” the host asked. With a smile, Bueckers replied, “I am becoming one,” a confession that drew laughter and cheers from the studio.
For the record, this wasn’t a random detour. Bueckers has long been known for her love of sports beyond basketball, and soccer was one of her first passions as a child.
“When I was younger, I was into all athletics, and I played with the boys all the time during recesses,” she once said.
“I played all the sports like football, soccer, baseball, and basketball. Basketball was something I could work on downstairs in the garage where I lived, and I guess it grew from there.”
Her brief London appearance, alongside fellow celebrity attendees including Jon Bon Jovi, showed another side of Bueckers: a global athlete expanding her horizons while maintaining her trademark humility. Yet back home, her WNBA team is undergoing significant change.
Wings turn to Jose Fernandez to lead next phase of rebuild
The Dallas Wings have announced longtime University of South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez as their new leader, replacing Chris Koclanes after a disappointing season. The move signals a new direction for a team brimming with young talent, and a clear focus on building around Bueckers.
Fernandez, who spent 25 years in Tampa turning USF into one of the most consistent programs in college basketball, brings both pedigree and experience to a franchise that has lacked continuity.
He will become Dallas’ fifth head coach since 2019, tasked with unlocking the full potential of a core that includes Bueckers, Aziaha James, Maddy Siegrist, and 2021 No. 2 overall pick Awak Kuier.
Bueckers, fresh off a dominant rookie campaign, averaged 19.2 points per game and shot over 52 percent from mid-range, numbers that earned her both Rookie of the Year and All-WNBA honors.
Fernandez’s arrival could help refine her offensive game even further, particularly her signature mid-range jumper, which has drawn comparisons to WNBA sharpshooter Courtney Williams, one of Fernandez‘s former players.
“She’s already elite, but her efficiency could become historic under a coach like Fernandez,” one Western Conference scout told ESPN. “He knows how to get the most out of players who can create their own shot.”
Bueckers has long credited the late Kobe Bryant as one of her biggest inspirations, and her emphasis on footwork and balance has become central to her offensive rhythm.
That connection between precision and mentality could make her an ideal fit for Fernandez‘s system, which emphasizes adaptability and fundamentals.
Bueckers’ leadership extends beyond the court
Even as she adapts to the WNBA grind, Bueckers remains grounded in her UConn roots. She returned to campus earlier this fall to celebrate the Huskies’ 2025 national championship, proudly showing off the custom ring she helped design alongside Caroline Ducharme and Azzi Fudd.
“That’s the reason we won it,” Bueckers said at UConn’s “Night With Champions” celebration, referencing the team motto engraved on the side of the ring: “The Power of Friendship.”
Another inscription simply reads “vibes,” which she laughed off as “our vibe of the year – we ran on straight vibes and stayed together through everything.”
Each element of the ring tells a piece of the team’s story, from the 12 trapezoids representing national titles to the engraved scores of their biggest tournament victories. It’s a fitting symbol for a player who has made connection and leadership her trademarks, even as her stardom grows.
As for her time abroad, Bueckers‘ Arsenal debut may just be another chapter in her evolution from NCAA standout to global ambassador.
With her charisma, competitive edge, and expanding influence, Paige Bueckers is proving she’s not only the face of the Dallas Wings, she’s one of basketball’s most magnetic personalities on any continent.
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