Paige Bueckers had dreamed of moments like this since she was a child. Enjoying beneath the lights. Placing on a present. And doing it in entrance of Kyrie Irving—the participant she’s appeared as much as for so long as she will bear in mind.
On Friday night time at American Airways Middle, all of it got here collectively. Bueckers turned in probably the greatest performances of her rookie season. She totaled 27 factors, six assists, two steals, two blocks, and 0 turnovers, because the Dallas Wings fell to the Indiana Fever, 94–86.
The stat line was historic. Actually, Bueckers grew to become the primary participant in WNBA historical past to document a sport with at the very least 25 factors, 5 assists, two steals, two blocks, and no turnovers. Irving, seated courtside along with his daughter, watched the whole factor unfold.
“It was fairly surreal,” Bueckers stated. “Someone I’ve appeared as much as and has been my favourite participant since I used to be actually, actually younger. So for him to return out and assist us and assist girls’s basketball and have his daughter there and get to fulfill him. He’s been like an enormous brother determine for me, and to lastly meet him in particular person, it was an incredible second.”
From Admiration to a Actual-Time Connection
Paige Bueckers on Kyrie: “It was fairly surreal. That’s anyone who I’ve appeared as much as and has been my favourite participant since I used to be actually, actually younger. So for him to return out and assist us, assist girls’s basketball, have his daughter there, and get to fulfill him, he’s been… https://t.co/WVNY9VhBrQ
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 28, 2025
In the course of the sport, Bueckers discovered a second to acknowledge Irving with a fast handshake alongside the sideline. After the ultimate buzzer, they met at heart courtroom, shared an embrace, and walked off the ground along with Irving’s daughter—carrying a Bueckers jersey—beside them. Bueckers signed a jersey for him, posed for images, and added a long-lasting reminiscence to an already exceptional night time.
That connection had been constructing for months.
At her April 23 introductory press convention after being drafted No. 1 total by the Wings, Bueckers beamed on the considered enjoying in the identical metropolis as Irving.
“He has been my favourite participant for without end now, so tremendous excited to be in the identical metropolis as him,” she stated. “Hope I can be taught quite a bit from him. I do know he’s going by way of an ACL journey himself, so to have the ability to lean on and assist one another by way of that, I believe, is one thing that may be motivating.”
Irving, a nine-time NBA All-Star and 2016 champion, tore his ACL in March and has been rehabbing throughout the Mavericks’ offseason. Bueckers, who returned from her personal ACL tear at UConn, is aware of the method effectively, and used that second in April to talk on to him.
“Kyrie, I do know you’re gonna do nice,” Bueckers stated. “I do know you’re going to return again from this higher than ever, and I respect you for being an inspiration on and off the courtroom. Being authentically your self, being unapologetically your self. It’s an inspiration. … Thanks for all the things.”
Crafting Her Sport in His Picture
Paige Bueckers walked off the courtroom with Kyrie Irving, the participant she picked when requested who she’d prefer to attend a Dallas Wings sport this season. pic.twitter.com/Fll3lBCHlp
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) June 28, 2025
Bueckers has spent years learning Irving’s sport—his footwork, his deal with, the change of tempo, the inventive angles on the rim. She’s tried to select up the refined issues that make him probably the most unpredictable scorers within the sport. That affect reveals in her capability to shift speeds, break down defenders, and create house in tight home windows.
“Simply when it comes to his ability work and his dedication to the sport,” Bueckers stated in April. “The stuff you see on the courtroom, how a lot preparation and the way [many] reps and the way a lot apply it takes to be that elite at basketball is one thing that I need to take with me in my journey. I believe his ending talents, the way in which he makes use of his quickness, he’s extraordinarily sturdy, and simply his creativity are issues I need to take away.”
She’s carried that mindset into each side of her coaching. Bueckers has centered on changing into a three-level scorer—attacking the rim, mastering the mid-range, and spacing the ground with a dependable three-point shot.
“I need to be as unguardable as doable,” Bueckers stated Friday. “And I really feel like Kyrie is likely one of the most unguardable individuals to ever play the sport. That begins with scoring in any respect three ranges. So, adapting [to] the mid-range sport was tremendous important for me and my sport, and in addition with the ability to get to the rim and capturing from behind the 3-point line.”
Bueckers backed that up with a clinic-level efficiency: 9-of-18 capturing, 2-of-3 from deep, and an ideal 7-for-7 on the free throw line. Her six assists got here with out a turnover. Finally, Bueckers helped lead the Wings all the way in which again from a 23 level first-half deficit, briefly giving them the lead within the fourth earlier than the Fever closed it out late.
A Crowd, A Second, A Milestone
Even with out Caitlin Clark, who was dominated out with a groin harm, the night time was stuffed with vitality and assist for the WNBA. A complete of 20,409 followers crammed the Mavericks’ dwelling area, making it one of many largest WNBA crowds of the yr. Mavericks No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons had been amongst many extra notable attendees within the constructing.
Nonetheless, the second belonged to Bueckers, who made historical past and met her hero on the identical night time
“He’s been like an enormous brother determine for me,” she stated once more. “And to lastly meet him in particular person, it was an incredible second.”
Though they misplaced to the Indiana Fever, the Wings made an announcement victory over the Mystics on Saturday night time.
