Tears welled up in the eyes of Bob Bueckers as he watched his daughter return to the court in her home state for her WNBA debut – and he wasn’t the only one overcome with emotion. Minnesota had become a celebration of Paige Bueckers.
Streets were temporarily renamed Bueckers Boulevard, fans packed her hometown, and a local brewery tapped a special beer called Paige’s 3-Point Pale. Ninety minutes before tip-off, the Dallas Wings rookie stood center court, visibly awed, quietly remarking, “That’s crazy.”
But for Bueckers, the moment wasn’t just about basketball. It marked a reunion with a figure from her early days – Gary Knox, a reporter from gPrep who had first written about her when she was just a sixth-grade talent with massive potential.
Knox recalled their shared journey in a post on X: “Full circle moment today. Watched Paige Bueckers, great even as a 6th grader, grow into one of the best. Hearing her call me ‘the originator’ and mention our connection from a 2013 tweet was a reminder of what it’s like to witness her journey from the start.”
That tweet, now legendary in Minnesota basketball circles, was posted on September 25, 2013: “Remember the name: Paige Bueckers. 6th grade, think Diana Taurasi. Best 6th grade G, I’ve ever seen. St. Louis Park.”
During media availability, Bueckers beamed when asked about Knox. “Me and GPrep go way back,” she said. “I played with his daughter, played with and against his son all the time in open gyms. Just what the investment and being a part of Minnesota means to me – it means everything.”
From a local prodigy to a national star, Paige Bueckers‘ debut with Dallas was not only the culmination of years of hard work, but a story that had come full circle – one tweet at a time.
WNBA legends and Dallas find new hope in Bueckers
Paige‘s impact is already being felt beyond Minnesota. In Dallas, where she was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft after leading UConn to a national title, the excitement is just as real. Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki expressed his admiration during the Wings‘ game against the Seattle Storm.
“It’s going to take a while to, obviously, get used to the physicality in the WNBA, but I think [Bueckers has] got the talent. She’s going to be amazing for us,” Nowitzki said. “She’s just going to get better from game to game, from season to season. You already can see now she’s gotten more comfortable out there from game one. She’s going to be tremendous for this organization for a long time.”
Following the departure of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Bueckers has been widely seen as a silver lining for Dallas sports fans. In her first game, she logged 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes – a performance that supported what Wings GM Curt Miller said on draft night: “There’s no doubt. From the moment she walked in the gym, to me, she’s better than advertised.”
Veteran star Arike Ogunbowale also shared her joy, tweeting during the draft: “I just fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD!” She later spoke about her optimism for the team’s future: “The pieces are there. Now I’m just excited to put the work in.”
Head coach Chris Koclanes also had praise for Bueckers following the team’s May 18 practice: “She’s gonna be just fine,” he said, highlighting her instincts, defensive focus, and offensive comfort.
From hometown hero to professional standout, Paige Bueckers is no longer just a name to remember – she’s a star whose journey continues to inspire on and off the court.
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