Napheesa Collier has believed in Paige Bueckers’ game for years. On Wednesday night, she watched the No. 1 overall pick deliver a poised, historic performance in front of a hometown crowd at Target Center.
Bueckers recorded her first WNBA double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, adding three steals in the Dallas Wings’ 85–81 loss to the undefeated Minnesota Lynx. She became just the third rookie in league history to post at least 10 points and 10 assists within her first three games.
Paige Bueckers is the fastest player in over a decade to record a game with 10+ PTS & 10+ AST.
Just her 3rd career game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hgL6xw2Q8I
— Real Sports (@realapp_) May 22, 2025
“I think Paige is going to be really good,” Collier told Ballislife. “She’s a three-level scorer, great passer. Rookie year is hard, so I’d tell her there are going to be ups and downs. But she’s staying aggressive and that’s what she needs to do—lead her team and take advantage of the opportunity. She’s going to play a lot of minutes, and I’m excited for her.
Homecoming Atmosphere Brings Out Minnesota’s Best
Bueckers’ return to Target Center was more than symbolic. She grew up in nearby Edina, starred at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, and spent countless nights watching the Lynx dynasty unfold in the same arena where she played Wednesday night.
“I’m always happy to be back home,” Bueckers said before the game. “I’m excited to play here, but I’m even more excited just to play the game.”
Former UConn teammates Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin were in attendance. Fudd wore a T-shirt featuring Bueckers’ SLAM magazine cover while sitting with Bueckers’ mother, Amy Dettbarn.
“I love Aubrey, that’s my pookie,” Bueckers said of Griffin. “She’s been through so much and to see her here supporting me means everything. We went through a lot together at UConn, and I’m just so proud of her and happy she’s here.”
Several former Hopkins and AAU teammates also attended.
“Just to have [family and friends] here means everything to me,” Bueckers said. “They’ve been a huge part of my story in getting here. So having their support is gonna be amazing.”
Before turning pro, Bueckers helped Hopkins to a 130–6 record and the 2019 state championship. She was named 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year and USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2019.
She then starred at UConn, becoming the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award and earning multiple All-America honors despite significant injuries. She finished her college career averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 2024-25.
“Just like I was once that kid looking up to WNBA players and wanting to be like them — that’s why you wear this jersey,” Bueckers said. “It’s for the ones who came before and for the next generation.”
Years of Mutual Respect and Shared History
Collier’s belief in Bueckers didn’t begin with the WNBA. The two first teamed up at the 2019 World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar, as part of the USA Basketball’s 3×3 senior national team.
Bueckers, then 17 and still in high school and verbally committed to UConn, was the youngest player on the roster and averaged 6.5 points per game. The experience helped display not only Bueckers’ potential as a basketball player overall, but showed Collier firsthand just what she could be in a 3-on-3 format.
Their connection continued to grow. In 2023, Collier co-founded UNRIVALED, a women’s 3-on-3 offseason league that offers equity and higher salaries to WNBA players. With Bueckers only growing in her career, it made her an obvious talent to recruit as the league continues to grow. Still at UConn at the time, she signed a three-year deal with the league.
“I mean, investments in women’s sports — I feel like the return on investment has been amazing,” Bueckers said earlier this year. “Even the first year [of Unrivaled], the numbers were shocking. They just blew it out of the water. And just to invest so much in women’s sports, it’s growing at an all-time high, and it’s just a great time to be in women’s sports.”
Learning Curve and Leadership in Early Season Growth
Despite the emotion of her return, Bueckers stayed focused on execution. She addressed the need for Dallas to clean up its defense after Courtney Williams and Collier combined for 59 points in the season opener.
“I think our defense on the point of attack, and Courtney Williams and Phee’s ability to really get whatever they wanted out of the pick and roll — so I think we need to be better at the point of attack and trying to congest the paint,” Bueckers said before the game.
She also emphasized adjustments on the offensive end.
“Just attacking offensively, trying to get more in transition, trying to get more paint touches, trying to get more changing sides of the floor,” Bueckers said. “But I think Phee and Courtney really killed us in the first game, so trying to clean it up on that end.”
She broke through with a second-quarter 3-pointer and assisted on two late-game buckets as Dallas closed within two. Bueckers has increased her assist and steal totals in each of her three games and continues to serve as Dallas’ lead playmaker.
“It’s crazy, the one that I made and the ones that I missed,” Bueckers said after the game. “But I’m just focusing on the next shot and just trying to contribute to winning, whether made or missed shots, trying to impact the game in different ways.”
Wings head coach Chris Koclanes praised her poise and command.
“Just trying to figure out how I can continue to help this team, help these players, and help them feel more comfortable,” Koclanes said. “Continuing to move this thing along at an accelerated pace.”
Bueckers acknowledged the moment was special, but remained grounded.
“To see all the little girls and people in the stands and realize that was you about 10 or 15 years ago — you never take it for granted how blessed you are to be able to play in this league,” Bueckers said.
The Wings may be still searching for their first win, but their rookie point guard is already winning over the league’s stars—one possession at a time.
