Usain Bolt may be the fastest man in history, but it was Paige Bueckers who convinced him to slow down and lock into women’s basketball.
The eight-time Olympic gold medalist made a surprise appearance at a recent Unrivaled 3-on-3 matchup between Breeze BC and Hive BC, and while the on-court action delivered, it was Bueckers‘ impact off the floor that stood out most. During his visit, Bolt revealed that his growing fandom of the Dallas Wings is directly tied to the team’s star rookie.
I’m definitely a fan. We actually support Dallas; we’ve been to a few games in Dallas. So, actually, I’m getting season tickets this season, so looking forward to see much more games.
For the world’s fastest sprinter, that’s no small endorsement-and it highlights just how far Bueckers’ profile has risen since entering the WNBA.
How Paige Bueckers turned Usain Bolt into a Wings fan
Bolt’s admiration for Paige Bueckers didn’t happen overnight. The two elite athletes crossed paths last year in a locker-room meeting that quickly became a viral moment. Bueckers gifted Bolt a signed Dallas Wings jersey, while Bolt returned the favor by autographing one of her own-an exchange that symbolized mutual respect across sports.
That connection resurfaced this week in Miami, where Bolt watched Bueckers compete for Breeze BC in the Unrivaled league. Even in a narrow 70-68 loss to Kelsey Mitchell’s Hive BC, Bueckers delivered a statement performance, pouring in 28 points on 13-of-23 shooting.
Bueckers stats in 2025:
- 19.2 PPG
- 5.4 APG
- 3.9 RPG
- 1.6 SPG
- Rookie-record 44-point game on 81% FG
Bolt, who admitted the trip wasn’t originally his idea, credited his longtime partner for pushing him to attend.
This is my first time. It’s been good,” Bolt said. I don’t want to take all the credit from my girlfriend; she’s been here like four times, so she’s been telling me that I should come.
By the end of the night, it was clear the experience-and Bueckers’ game-had fully won him over.
Why Unrivaled is fueling Paige Bueckers’ next leap
Bueckers’ rookie season with the Dallas Wings already exceeded expectations. She captured WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and immediately established herself as one of the league’s most efficient scorers, even as Dallas missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
Rather than coast on early success, Bueckers jumped straight into Unrivaled after the 2025 season, embracing the league’s intense, no-help defensive environment as a way to sharpen her edge.
Yeah, I think the physicality [is] No. 1. We all know that the W is physical, but I feel Unrivaled is even more physical than that… you’re basically on an island, so at points you’re gonna have to be okay with getting cooked.
That challenge appears to be paying off. Breeze BC currently sits fourth in the standings with legitimate title aspirations, and Bueckers is also set to compete in Unrivaled’s upcoming 1-on-1 tournament-another stage to expand her star power.
As the WNBA season approaches in May, momentum is clearly on Bueckers’ side. She’s elevating her game, boosting the Wings’ global visibility, and now adding Usain Bolt to a growing list of high-profile believers.
For Dallas, that might be just as valuable as anything that shows up in the box score.
Read the full article here
