Mohegan, Conn. — Paige Bueckers stepped onto the WNBA hardwood for the first time on May 3, 2025, and the kid from UConn didn’t just show up—she left a mark. The Dallas Wings’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft dropped 10 points in 23 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces, a 112-78 preseason loss that still had the crowd buzzing. Her first pro bucket, a slick left-handed scoop midway through the first quarter, drew roars from the sold-out Mohegan Sun Arena.
Bueckers, all of 23, drained four of seven shots, including two of three from beyond the arc. She snagged four rebounds and dished out an assist, showing the poise that made her a college legend. The game, played on the University of Connecticut’s turf, felt like a homecoming for the former Husky. Fans groaned when her shots rimmed out, cheered like old friends when she splashed a triple. “It’s super surreal,” Bueckers said after the game, her voice steady but her eyes wide with the weight of it all. “Two weeks ago, I was somewhere else entirely. Now I’m here.”
The Aces, led by reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, didn’t make it easy. Wilson even gave Bueckers a nod after a foul call, a quiet welcome to the league. On the Wings’ bench, Bueckers sat shoulder-to-shoulder with All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, soaking in the moment. New Dallas coach Chris Koclanes had told her to “play present, not perfect,” and she took it to heart. Her game wasn’t flawless—nobody’s is in their first pro outing—but it was fearless.
The crowd, packed with UConn faithful, brought an energy that felt more like March Madness than a preseason tilt. Bueckers, ever the diplomat, praised the vibe. “It wasn’t UConn versus Notre Dame, so you expect a different kind of crowd,” she said. “But this environment? Electric. I’d love to bring a game like this to Storrs.”
Her debut wasn’t just about buckets. Koclanes noted her calm under pressure, a trait that’s followed her from college stardom to this new stage. The Wings, a team of fresh faces still finding their rhythm, leaned on her instincts. She moved like she belonged, even as the Aces’ defense swarmed.
Bueckers’ stat line: 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, 4-for-7 shooting, 2-for-3 from three, 23 minutes played. The Wings fell 112-78 to the Aces on May 3, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena.