Wings guard Paige Bueckers’ long-anticipated WNBA debut came under the bright lights of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion on Friday, May 2, where the rebuilding Dallas Wings faced off against the retooling Las Vegas Aces in the league’s preseason opener.
Just weeks after leading the Huskies to another NCAA national title and being selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers stepped right into the starting lineup and played a hard 23 minutes in her first professional game. The Aces, stacked with All-Stars and Olympic talent, dominated in a 112-78 win, but for Bueckers, the game only marked the beginning of a new era.
Selected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to the Dallas Wings, Bueckers joins a rebuilding franchise and a slew of newly signed free agents, also getting to know and learn from each other better. Power couple forward NaLyssa Smith and guard-forward DiJinai Carrington were traded from their respective teams to help the Wings improve this season alongside the new Wings head coach, Chris Koclanes.
Bueckers started and played 23 minutes on Notre Dame’s home court. She ultimately finished with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including two 3-pointers, and four rebounds.
Her first game was challenging, facing “five Olympian-level players” in the Aces team, Bueckers said. Bueckers struggled with the faster pace and physicality of the pro game, playing through contact, and balancing shots with playmaking. “Screen navigation” was another point of emphasis Bueckers highlighted postgame.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Bueckers, who led UConn to a national championship in March before being selected first overall by the Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft in April. And on May 2, she stepped into the starting lineup and checked into a WNBA game for the first time, facing off against one of the league’s top franchises in one of the toughest tests imaginable.
“It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks ago to where I am today,” Bueckers said. “I’m just soaking it up and enjoying every moment, getting used to new routines, traditions, new teammates, new organization. I’m just excited to be playing basketball again with this new group and continue to grow and get better every day.”
Bueckers scored her first WNBA bucket halfway through the first quarter, driving to the rim past point guard Chelsea Gray, center A’ja Wilson, and center Kiah Stokes.
She faced constant pressure throughout the night from the Aces, including from Jewell Loyd, who was acquired in the massive three-team trade that sent clutch guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. For Lloyd, the Seattle Storm received the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, center Li Yueru, and a 2026 first-round pick as part of the deal.
Loyd played with intensity, serving as Bueckers’ primary defender. On the other end of the court, Bueckers had the unenviable task of rotating between guarding Loyd and guard Jackie Young, two of the league’s greatest guards. In her first game with the Aces, Loyd scored 10 points, and Young sank 28.
Ultimately, Dallas’ starters looked out of sync at times, and Bueckers is still learning and adapting to the WNBA’s play style. Still, she showed flashes of her elite potential, even while scoring just 10 points, a stark contrast from her UConn days. It’s worth remembering that this was only her first professional game.
“No expectations,” Bueckers said. “I feel like that comes from an outside source, so just building with the team here, trying to get better every single day, and don’t worry about expectations. Don’t set yourself to a ceiling of what you can achieve, but just try to be better and win the day.”
The Wings are still building chemistry with a newly assembled roster, a first-year head coach, and a top draft pick coming off a grueling NCAA championship run. Against a veteran Aces squad stacked with All-Stars and Olympic talent, it was a trial by fire—but also a valuable first step for Bueckers’ development in the WNBA.
Both the Wings and Aces used deep rotations throughout the night, giving players a chance to compete for limited roster spots. With WNBA teams allowed just 12 active players, and some carrying only 11 due to salary cap constraints, the preseason serves as a crucial evaluation period. Bueckers solidified her spot with the Wings long ago, and her first WNBA game, although a loss, is only the start of a promising and dominant career. The Wings wrap up preseason play on May 10, hosting the Toyota Antelopes of the Women’s Japan Basketball League.
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