Paige Bueckers drops emotional commentary after WNBA preseason debut: “Don’t see myself as a celebrity”

Paige Bueckers is formally a certified after making her preseason debut for the Dallas Wings on Friday within the 2025 WNBA preseason. The former UConn superstar logged 23 mins and tallied 10 issues on 4-of-7 taking pictures, although her Wings fell to the Las Vegas Aces in a lopsided 112-78 defeat.

Following the sport, Bueckers used to be requested about navigating the steadiness between repute and launching her professional occupation. She downplayed the “celebrity” label and mentioned she merely sees herself as an athlete.

“I don’t see myself as a celebrity at all,” she mentioned postgame. “Just a basketball participant.”

Before wrapping up her faculty occupation, Bueckers had an NIL valuation of $1.4 million, in step with On3. She had endorsement offers with primary manufacturers comparable to Nike, Gatorade, Crocs, Dunkin’, Taco Bell, Topps, Chegg, Unrivaled, Bose and extra.

She additionally admitted the fast shift from UConn to the professionals gave her little time to arrange, so she targeted at the basis that were given her this a long way.

“There used to be no longer numerous time to arrange,” she mentioned. “Just leaning on what’s gotten me here and build on that.”

In her ultimate 12 months with the Huskies, Bueckers averaged 19.9 issues, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals in step with sport, serving to UConn clinch its 12th NCAA name.

Bueckers longing for new adventure with remodeled Wings squad

Bueckers enters the WNBA because the league’s maximum extremely expected rookie, becoming a member of a retooled Dallas Wings crew led by means of superstar guards Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington.

Despite the heavy preseason loss to the protecting champion Aces, Bueckers mentioned the instant felt nearly unreal.

“It’s super surreal … just excited to play basketball again with this new group,” she mentioned (in step with Moreau Sports).

She additionally said the variations in tempo, rhythm, and ability degree between the varsity sport and the professionals.

Looking forward, Bueckers hopes to assist spark a turnaround for a Wings crew that completed the 2024 season with a 9-31 report — the second-worst within the league.

As she steps into her WNBA occupation, Bueckers continues the legacy of mythical UConn alumnae comparable to Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, Rebecca Lobo, Swin Cash and Napheesa Collier.