Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has had an incredible few months, and her hometown is celebrating her achievements in a big way. Just days before being selected as the No. 1 pick in the April 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers led the UConn Huskies to an NCAA Women’s National Championship, ending a nine-year title drought for the program.
Now, as she prepares for her WNBA debut, Hopkins, Minnesota, is honoring her by renaming the city “Paige Bueckers, Minnesota” for a day on May 16, 2025, coinciding with her first game against the Minnesota Lynx.
The announcement, made earlier this month, initially caught Bueckers off guard. “I didn’t believe it at first,” she shared during a press conference on May 13. “I thought it was fake news. There’s a lot of fake news that circles around on the internet. So, you never know what to trust.”
Once the news sank in, she expressed her gratitude, adding, “It’s also surreal and I don’t know, it’s crazy to me that they would name the whole city after me. But just to be able to give back to that whole city whose given me so much… For them to show love like that I appreciate it for sure.”
Bueckers shocked by hometown honor
Hopkins isn’t stopping at the name change. The city is also hosting a watch party to cheer on their hometown hero as she takes the court for the Wings. A release from the city shared the excitement: “Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the game, it’s the perfect opportunity to support Hopkins alumna Paige Bueckers as she takes the court for the Wings. Don’t miss out on this exciting event-gather your friends and enjoy a night of basketball, great food, and community spirit!” The event aims to bring the community together to celebrate Bueckers’ journey from a local star to a WNBA standout.
Bueckers has already shown her potential in the pros, averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals across two preseason games, while shooting an impressive 66.6% from the field and 60% from three-point range.
Her debut with the Dallas Wings against the Minnesota Lynx is set for Friday, May 16, at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ION, giving fans across the country a chance to see the No. 1 pick in action as she faces off against her home-state team in a full-circle moment.
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