Paige Bueckers gets reality check from Wings veterans on first day of camp: "Those screens I got hit with today"

Former UConn standout Paige Bueckers enters the 2025 WNBA season as one of the most hyped rookies, set to make her debut with the Dallas Wings after being selected No. 1 overall. As training camp kicked off, she shared what has stood out most to her as the biggest adjustment from college to the pros.

That adjustment? The physicality of the screens being set, she said. Speaking to NABJ Sports’ Dorothy J. Gentry about the biggest difference she has noticed so far, Bueckers said:

“Honestly, screens I got hit by. That would be like the first, like, ‘Wow, yeah, this is different.’

"And obviously, the floor is a little shrinked, you've got defensive three seconds in the lane, offensive three seconds in the lane. So that's a little bit different. And then the pace, and obviously the physicality of stuff they let go in the W."

Expand Tweet

In her final season with UConn, Bueckers put up averages of 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.8 blocks, helping lead the Huskies to their 12th NCAA championship.

She is projected to be a starter for a Wings team that already boasts star guards Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington.

Paige Bueckers ‘super excited’ for future in Dallas

On Wednesday, Paige Bueckers, alongside Aziaha James, Madison Scott, J.J. Quinerly and Aaronette Vonleh, her fellow rookies, took part in an introductory press conference ahead of the 2025 WNBA season.

At the presser, Bueckers — who had long been considered the presumptive No. 1 pick — spoke about her excitement for the opportunity with Dallas.

"There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we're really excited," Bueckers said (per ESPN). "And plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots, we're ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas.

"You don't want to take anything for granted, or be entitled to anything, so you want to continue to stay motivated to work," Bueckers added. "So being the first pick or the last pick, it didn't matter to me. But we're here now. We're in Dallas and super excited for the future."

Bueckers will aim to help lead a turnaround for a Wings squad that finished the 2024 season with a 9-31 record, the second-worst mark in the WNBA.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro