Karl-Anthony Towns knows something about special players, being one himself. The five-time All-Star and multiple-time All-NBA big man for the New York Knicks posted a three-word message on “X” after Paige Bueckers got drafted by the Wings first overall in the WNBA draft.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ 3-Word Message for Paige Bueckers
“She the 1,” he wrote in a short message indicating his respect for her game.
Bueckers, a Minnesota native, clearly has a fan in KAT. Towns spent his whole career with the Timberwolves until this season’s trade to his hometown New York Knicks, so he’s followed her rise closely since her high school days at Hopkins High School.
she the 1. https://t.co/DYwiMdsXrO
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 15, 2025
He was even courtside for one of her Hopkins games, where she dropped 33 points. And back in 2020, Towns personally handed her the Gatorade Player of the Year award, the same award he won himself in 2014.
As he told ESPN at the time: “It feels like I won the award a day ago; now I’m over here giving it to the next generation.”
Fast-forward five years, he must feel a particular sense of pride in her remarkable rise to the top, having watched her game grow since then.
It’s been a stunning rise for the national champion, Bueckers; she went from starring for her school in Minnesota to starring for UConn, where she won many prestigious awards. Now, she’s set to star in the WNBA as the No. 1 pick.
Bueckers Gets Drafted by the Wings
Bueckers looks ready to become the WNBA’s next breakout star after leading UConn to its first national title in nine years.
It’s been a huge year for the combo guard. She averaged just under 20 points per game while shooting an elite 53.1% from the field. She also brought home major awards, including the Wade and Naismith trophies.
Injuries slowed her down at times, but every time, she came back stronger, capping her college run with a dominant NCAA Tournament.
Now, she’s stepping into the pros with serious hype. The Wings just landed one of the most marketable and talented players the league has seen in years. Dallas badly needed this win. After a rough 2025 across their sports scene, drafting Bueckers is a major lift for the city and franchise.
Wings GM Curt Miller put it plainly: “It was Paige, and Paige only. She’s such a special player.”
She helped UConn end a decade-long title drought. Now, she’s tasked with flipping the Wings’ fortunes. Don’t be surprised if she does it fast—her game is that good.
Let’s just hope Dallas values her more than their NBA team did with Luka Dončić. Trading a superstar like that? Still doesn’t sit right.