Paige Bueckers made her WNBA debut on Friday night at Purcell Pavilion, starting at point guard for the Dallas Wings in a preseason matchup against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The No. 1 overall pick logged 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist in the Wings’ 112–78 loss, facing one of the league’s most formidable backcourts.
Matched up against Olympic-level veterans Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd, Bueckers was immediately tested by the Aces’ physicality and defensive pressure. Las Vegas crowded driving lanes, applied consistent ball pressure, and forced quick decisions from the Wings’ guards throughout the night.
“The pace, the flow of the game, the talent level — that’s what stood out,” Bueckers said. “You’re playing against, especially the Aces, five Olympic-level players and a great team and organization.”
After the game, Bueckers identified the most significant adjustment from college to the pros thus far.
“Definitely fighting over screens,” Bueckers said. “They’re a lot bigger. They’re a lot more physical. So screen navigation was definitely something that was different than college.”
The former UConn star handled the moment with composure and confidence, showing flashes of the playmaking and scoring that made her a top pick. Still, she acknowledged that the pace, spacing, and physicality will take some time.
Bueckers, 23, led UConn to a national championship less than a month ago. Despite the quick turnaround, she’s handled the process with composure and has embraced the growing pains while showing flashes of brilliance.
Though screen navigation and defensive reads were clear areas for growth, Bueckers showed flashes of the playmaking and scoring that made her a top pick. Her first made field goal was a left-hand finish on an aggressive drive, but she struggled to convert for most of the first half. After getting a couple of three-pointers to fall, she finished 4-of-7 from the field and logged just under 23 minutes.
“It definitely wasn’t perfect,” Bueckers said. “But communication is one of the most important parts of basketball. We’ll keep getting more game reps, more practice reps, and that’ll lead to a lot more [comfort] among everyone.”
The Wings return to preseason action on May 10 against Japan’s Toyota Antelopes, giving Bueckers another opportunity to accelerate her adjustment to the WNBA.
Related: Paige Bueckers Already Loving Dallas Before WNBA Preseason Debut With Wings
Paige Bueckers made her WNBA debut on Friday night at Purcell Pavilion, starting at point guard for the Dallas Wings in a preseason matchup against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The No. 1 overall pick logged 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist in the Wings’ 112–78 loss, facing one of the league’s most formidable backcourts.
Matched up against Olympic-level veterans Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd, Bueckers was immediately tested by the Aces’ physicality and defensive pressure. Las Vegas crowded driving lanes, applied consistent ball pressure, and forced quick decisions from the Wings’ guards throughout the night.
“The pace, the flow of the game, the talent level — that’s what stood out,” Bueckers said. “You’re playing against, especially the Aces, five Olympic-level players and a great team and organization.”
After the game, Bueckers identified the most significant adjustment from college to the pros thus far.
“Definitely fighting over screens,” Bueckers said. “They’re a lot bigger. They’re a lot more physical. So screen navigation was definitely something that was different than college.”
The former UConn star handled the moment with composure and confidence, showing flashes of the playmaking and scoring that made her a top pick. Still, she acknowledged that the pace, spacing, and physicality will take some time.
Bueckers, 23, led UConn to a national championship less than a month ago. Despite the quick turnaround, she’s handled the process with composure and has embraced the growing pains while showing flashes of brilliance.
Though screen navigation and defensive reads were clear areas for growth, Bueckers showed flashes of the playmaking and scoring that made her a top pick. Her first made field goal was a left-hand finish on an aggressive drive, but she struggled to convert for most of the first half. After getting a couple of three-pointers to fall, she finished 4-of-7 from the field and logged just under 23 minutes.
“It definitely wasn’t perfect,” Bueckers said. “But communication is one of the most important parts of basketball. We’ll keep getting more game reps, more practice reps, and that’ll lead to a lot more [comfort] among everyone.”
The Wings return to preseason action on May 10 against Japan’s Toyota Antelopes, giving Bueckers another opportunity to accelerate her adjustment to the WNBA.
Related: Paige Bueckers Already Loving Dallas Before WNBA Preseason Debut With Wings
