There are game nights—and then there are the ones that hit differently. For Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers, the team’s latest was all that and more.
Not only did the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft snag her first pro win, but Bueckers did it back in Connecticut, on the same court where she made her name with the UConn Huskies. Add in a career-high stat line and a wholesome courtside reunion with former teammate Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and that clip was bound to break the internet.
Full-Circle Energy as Paige Bueckers and Olivia Nelson-Ododa Reunite Courtside
Before the tip-off between the Wings and Connecticut Sun even got going, fans at Mohegan Sun Arena got a surprise treat. A pregame clip of Bueckers and Nelson-Ododa sharing a laugh, trading playful jabs, and embracing like it was college all over again quickly went viral.
For UConn fans, it was pure serotonin. It was the kind of authentic, joyful moment you can’t script — and the WNBA world ate it up.
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Nelson, now playing for Connecticut, and Bueckers, fresh into her rookie campaign with Dallas, may be on opposite sides of the scoreboard, but they’re still riding the same dream.
From locker room chats in Storrs to meeting again as pros under the bright lights, it was a surreal and heartwarming flashback for both. Fans couldn’t help but feel like they were witnessing something more than a game.
Bueckers’ Monster Night Adds More Sparkle to the Moment
As for the game itself, the Wings finally snapped their four-game losing streak, convincingly defeating the Sun 109-87, with Bueckers leading the charge. The rookie dropped 21 points, totaled seven assists, and snagged five boards — all while shooting 80% from the field.
Bueckers also became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 60 points and 30 assists through her first five games.
Despite Dallas struggling early in the season, Bueckers has been the Wings’ heartbeat, spark plug, and their most consistent piece. With 73 points and 32 assists already this season, Bueckers is changing the game. And the best part is that she did it all in front of familiar faces, in a building that once chanted her name in college. That’s a fairytale night if there ever was one.
As Dallas heads to Chicago to wrap up its road trip, all eyes stay glued to Bueckers. And after this viral moment and historic performance, don’t be surprised if she’s just getting warmed up.
