Two Sundays, Paige Bueckers and Sue Bird gathered inside the Amalia Arena in Tampa, Florida, because different points in their lives were celebrated.
Bueckers led the coronation of the court. Huskies threw South Carolina to win the first National National Championship in nine years. When she tossed to college after the last game, with a souvenir network was out of her neck, Bueckers said she felt a stunning sense of joy and gratitude.
Bird also looked grateful for her moment in the center of attention. It was partially present to co -co -hound the alternative ESPN television with its best friend and former teammate UConn Diana Taurasi. But in the first half of any 23-point Huskies victory, Bird received a warm ovation because she was honored as a new inductor in NaiSmith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The fact that Bird and Bueckers were at the same place at the same time was a good reminder of the current moment in the women’s basketball. The new guard enters professional ranks, while the older generation looks – and receives a confirmation – from Arena.
Over the past three years, they have left Trailblazers like Bird, Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker. Bueckers, which is expected to be selected with selection No. 1 on Monday’s WNBA draft from Dallas Wings, is a potential pillar for its future.
PAIGE. Buckets. He said enough. 🏆
Paige Bueckers closed her career UConn with a national title and 2025 Wade Trophy. It was 3x AP First Team All-American, 2x Nancy Lieberman Award Award and 2021 National Player of the Year. Bueckers led Uconn for four finals … pic.twitter.com/parnmvo5dk
– wnba (@wntba) April 11, 2025
As the cornerstones of the last chapter WNBA, she joined last year’s best newcomers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Who should be a new rack of baton than someone who faced constant questions about pressure and inheritance during his college career? When WNBA tries to build on its historical season 2024, Bueckers’ arrival is as close as the league can add to another ambassador ready to help complicate his growth.
“It’s so popular right now, so it’s in a really good place,” said Wings CEO Miller. “I am excited by the fact that this design class maintains pace.”
Bueckers are used for high expectations. In Uconn, she faced them with an endless reminder. The chairs from each of the last four performances of the program were in the practical gym of Huskies. There are banners on the wall for all Americans and national titles. Some Storrs, Conn., Welcome brands indicate how many Huskies have won. After last week it is now NCAA-Record 12.
Bueckers is aware of every brand. She learned to improve her thinking and focus on driving. In five years, it has become the face of a university program, which probably has a higher profile than almost every WNBA franchise and navigates not only its own growing star, but also the changing climate in higher education. It is part of a generation of university players who behaved at school as professionals. Photo and commercial shoots become part of the days. He already has a partnership with Nike, Intuit, Google and Bose. And Friday, Bueckers – after never climbed WNBA – was part of Ally’s promotional materials to become an official bank partner of WNBA.
Eight days after the completion of his collegial career, Bueckers officially turns the page in his story when he passes the scene. It will almost certainly go to Dallas to join the franchise, which lacks the same historical meaning as its alma mater. Although the wings technically have three championships for their name, these titles belong to the Detroit shock, which later moved to Tulse and eventually moved to Texas.
“I can’t start telling you how much it just injures energy, enthusiasm when we go to the season ’25,” Miller said in December after the wings received selection No. 1.
As a triple all-American, triple big East Player of the Year and one-time player Naismmith of the year, Bueckers may look like a travel map during the newcomers’ season.
It took only a few weeks to modify the former Iowa star to professionals. Clark exploded and adapted to WNBa physics and found her stroke and laugh with his teammates on his way to the first season of All-waita. Indiana Hleček first returned to Play -Off since 2016.
“As in last year, when we thought Caitlin Clark would immediately translate, and a lot of it, I think Paige’s game will be translated right away,” said Uconn Alum and Hall of Fame ahead of Rebecca Lobo. “Caitlin and Paige are very different players … But their impact can be equally significant.”
Social teammates will feel the impact of Bueckers in the games – he is willing to pass by and creates an even better appearance for the existing Dallas guard Ogunbowale. And it will be felt throughout the league-food that there is a television draw, with two wings on ABC this season after any year last year.
In Dallas, the team managers also acknowledged the impact that selection no. 1. When the wings won the lottery in mid -November, nine days after Miller was declared as their new GM, they still had to hire a coach. But on Sunday, when ping-pong balls were reflected in their favor, Miller knew he was transformative.
The wings hired by Chris Koclanes as her coach in December was already at a growth moment when they learned about their happiness. They planned to move from Arlington to Dallas 2026 and strengthen their arena sitting from approximately 6,000 to 9,000. The new practical facility was also in works and added more national partners than ever before. In 2024, Dallas overturned his ticket income three times and sold two half -time ownership in the valuation of league records of $ 208 million.
I woke up and felt like a traitor because I really applauded when a team scored ??? 😭☘ Anyway go wings lol. I can’t wait for the concept. @Dallaswings You know what to do ❗
– Ariko Owbutan (@iko_o) April 7, 2025
But in the same way, Clark supercharged interest in fever and Reese for Chicago Sky, Bueckers is likely to provide support. Although Dallas’s total ticket income increased by 44 percent from 2023 to 2024, the franchise this season will reflect a 50 % increase in total ticket income. The wings sold out the inventory of their seasonal tickets every of the last two seasons, but announced that they did so at the end of November, just a few days after providing selection No. 1.
Bueckers, 23, is a well -known star. Outside the court, she received subtitles from the US Open and New York Fashion Week. For the first time since 2004-05, this season sold out their seasonal tickets for the Gampel Pavilion for the first time.
UConn’s Blowout victory over South Carolina was the third most watched female basketball championship, according to ESPN it reached 9.8 million spectators. Sweet 16 rounded 1.7 million spectators across ESPN networks, the second was most watching Sweet 16 in the record last year.
Monday’s proposal could also not reach the record events of 2024, but it is ready to remain remarkable and could be the second watched design W at all. Bueckers will hear her name, which is called, shares a moment with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and starts the post-tug district consisting of interviews and photography.
As Tauras said last season, when Clark was preparing for WNBA, reality is coming. This is also true for Bueckers. But as part of a wave of name, pictures and similarities that have already been the face of the program and sport, Bueckers is ready to be another story of success in this era of historical growth of WNBA. It is impossible to be fully prepared for what will happen next but is well placed to be successful.
Here is a view of the order of Monday’s proposal:
(Illustrations: Demetrius Robinson / Athletic;; PHOTO PAIGE BUECKERS: David Butler II / Imagn Images)
