Bueckers Faces Sun in First Pro Game at Mohegan \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Paige Bueckers returns to Connecticut for the first time since leading UConn to a national title, as her Dallas Wings face the Connecticut Sun. After a strong showing in Minnesota, Bueckers is eager to bring winning energy to her new team. Despite Dallas’ 0–4 start, she’s already making a major impact.
Quick Looks
- Bueckers plays at Mohegan Sun Arena for first time as a pro.
- Went 15-0 in the arena during her UConn career.
- Now leads the winless Dallas Wings in scoring, assists, and steals.
- Bueckers dropped 12 points and 10 assists in Minnesota homecoming.
- Wings coach Chris Koclanes praises her IQ and leadership.
- Rookie embraces journey: “No expectations, just growth.”
- Next Connecticut matchup scheduled for June 20.
Deep Look
Paige Bueckers is back in Connecticut—but this time, she’s trading her iconic UConn blue and white for the teal and black of the Dallas Wings. As the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft prepares to face the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night, her return to Mohegan Sun Arena marks a meaningful full-circle moment in what has already been a milestone-filled rookie season.
The game will be Bueckers’ first professional appearance in Connecticut since she helped lead the University of Connecticut to its 12th national championship just under two months ago. She returns not as a college star, but as a WNBA rookie already establishing herself as the centerpiece of a team still searching for its first win of the season.
“It’s going to be weird not wearing a UConn uniform,” Bueckers said during Monday’s press conference. “But it’s something I’m going to enjoy with this new team, this new organization. It’s great to be back. Great to continue this journey.”
For Bueckers, Mohegan Sun Arena holds only winning memories. During her UConn career, she never lost a game there, posting a perfect 15-0 record and claiming four Big East tournament titles on that very court. At Tuesday’s morning shootaround, she looked right at home again, nailing a halfcourt shot—a ritual she’s repeated throughout her first WNBA season.
“I have great memories here. We never lost here during my time at UConn,” Bueckers said. “I’m trying to bring that energy back into this building and help this team get that first win.”
Although the Wings are off to an 0–4 start, Bueckers has wasted no time showing why she was the top draft pick. She leads Dallas in scoring (13.0 points per game), assists (6.3), and steals (1.8), displaying a poise and maturity that often takes years to develop at the professional level.
“She just keeps doing things that should be surprising, but somehow aren’t,” said Wings head coach Chris Koclanes. “She’s a high-IQ player, a true leader, and a relentless student of the game. What she brings to this team, on and off the court, is already changing the culture.”
Koclanes emphasized Bueckers’ commitment not just to performance but to leadership development. “She’s making a real effort to grow as a leader and elevate the group. She studies the game, picks up new reads quickly, and doesn’t shy away from the physicality. It’s rare to see this kind of total investment from a rookie.”
Her performance last week in Minnesota—her home state—offered another emotional chapter in her young professional journey. Playing at the Target Center in front of family and friends, Bueckers notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists against the Lynx.
Now, she looks to replicate that impact on a court she once ruled in a different jersey.
“We’re not setting expectations,” Bueckers explained. “We’re focused on growing—on film, in the weight room, on the court, and in how we connect with one another. Staying positive and learning from every game is what this season is about.”
Her maturity echoes the leadership she displayed at UConn, where she became the face of women’s college basketball. Her influence extends beyond stats; she’s helping shape the Wings’ team identity and acting as a stabilizing force for a franchise undergoing transformation.
Despite a winless record, Dallas has shown flashes of cohesion and potential—largely driven by Bueckers’ playmaking and presence. As the Wings prepare for Tuesday night’s game, the matchup is less about standings and more about symbolism: a beloved college legend returning to the state where her star rose, now carrying the weight of a new chapter.
Bueckers and the Wings will return to Connecticut one final time this season on June 20, offering one more chance for fans in the Nutmeg State to see her play in person.
For now, though, Tuesday’s homecoming is about familiarity, growth, and a reminder of how far Paige Bueckers has come—and how far she’s about to go.
Bueckers Faces Sun
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