UConn Huskies standout guard Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, ushering in a new era in Dallas. Shortly after, Dallas Mavericks superstar big man Anthony Davis gave Bueckers a warm welcome to the city.
Anthony Davis Welcomes Paige Bueckers to Dallas
Fresh off winning her first national championship in her final season at UConn, Bueckers’ selection by the Wings was widely considered an inevitability. Nevertheless, Monday, April 14, was an emotional evening for this year’s Wade Trophy recipient, who expressed an “overwhelming sense of gratitude.”
Among those most supportive of Bueckers was Davis, a fellow No. 1 draft pick. He was selected No. 1 by the then-New Orleans Hornets in the 2012 NBA Draft after a sensational freshman season at the University of Kentucky. Thus, the 10-time All-Star touched on his shared experiences while welcoming Bueckers to town.
On Monday, the Mavericks uploaded Davis’ greeting message to Bueckers on X. In the clip, the 2020 NBA champion underscored his plans to watch Bueckers in person during her rookie WNBA campaign.
“What’s up, Paige? AD here. From one first-round [No. 1] overall pick to another, I just want to say congratulations,” Davis said. “Welcome to Dallas. Can’t wait to get you here to support you, come to some games, and watch you do your thing. Congrats again. Enjoy the night.”
From one No. 1 pick to another…
AD welcomes @paigebueckers1 to Dallas 🙌#MFFL pic.twitter.com/acbNgNRXdy
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 14, 2025
Davis just wrapped up his first regular season with the Mavericks after being acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster Feb. 1 NBA trade deadline deal. His team finished 10th in the Western Conference (39-43), booking a play-in matchup against the ninth-seeded Sacramento Kings (40-42) on Wednesday, April 16.
The five-time All-NBA selectee is tasked with filling the void left by the departure of beloved Slovenian megastar Luka Dončić. The 2024 NBA scoring champion, seemingly entering his prime, was shipped to L.A. in exchange for Davis, leaving Dallas in shock.
As for Bueckers, she will face the challenge of sparking a turnaround for the Wings following their 9-31 finish last season, the second-worst in the WNBA. The franchise last made the playoffs in 2023, where it was swept 3-0 in the semifinals by the Las Vegas Aces.
Across 38 outings with the Huskies during her senior season, Bueckers averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 3-pointers per game. She did so on efficient 53.4/41.9/88.9 shooting splits.
As such, the dynamic offensive guard is expected to make an immediate impact in Year 1 in Dallas.