Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers ignited a wave of intrigue this week when she publicly extended an invitation to Mavericks star Kyrie Irving to attend a Wings game in 2025.
The unexpected crossover between the WNBA’s newest phenom and the NBA’s $120 million man has sparked speculation about injury recoveries, marketing synergies, and the broader impact on women’s basketball.
Bueckers’ respect for Irving runs deep. As a youth, she often cited his ball‐handling artistry and clutch shotmaking as inspirations for her own game. Now, as she transitions from UConn royalty to WNBA rookie, she carries that admiration onto the professional stage—hoping her hero might return the favor by showing up in the stands.
Paige Bueckers’ Wishes Kyrie Irving Shows Up
Before the final buzzer sounded and the hardwood cooled, a hush of speculation descended upon Notre Dame’s storied Purcell Pavilion. The Wings’ rookie phenom Bueckers—fresh off a national title run at UConn—stepped onto WNBA soil for the first time in a preseason clash against the Las Vegas Aces.
Though the scoreboard told a lopsided tale, that debut was anything but ordinary. Bueckers logged 10 points in 23 minutes.
From the opening tip, the Aces asserted control. Las Vegas raced to a double-digit lead by the first quarter’s end and never looked back, cruising to a commanding 112–78 victory over Dallas.
Bueckers answered the bell in her first professional minutes, drilling a left-handed scoop shot midway through the first quarter for her inaugural WNBA basket. By game’s end, she had amassed 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including two three-pointers, alongside four rebounds, one assist, and three fouls in 23 minutes of action.
Following her iconic debut, on May 8, Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick fresh off an NCAA championship, has quietly issued what may be the season’s most intriguing invitation: “I would like to see Kyrie Irving at a game for sure.”
Within hours, social media buzzed with speculation: Would Dallas’ $120 million man answer the call, crossing the hall from the NBA’s American Airlines Center to the WNBA’s College Park Center?
Irving’s impact on Dallas Mavericks extends beyond his on-court heroics. In the summer of 2023, he inked a three-year deal worth $120 million, fully guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid players in league history.
According to Spotrac, his first year under this contract will pay him $40 million, with a $42,962,963 salary in 2025-26, figures that underscore the Mavericks’ commitment to building around Luka Doncic’s co-star.
Yet, this investment has come with its own drama. Irving underwent season-ending ACL surgery earlier this year, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a January matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Irving’s ACL tear in January left Dallas reeling, as the former NBA champion had been averaging over 20 points per contest and ranking among the league’s top three-point shooters.
His rehabilitation, documented in snippets on social media and in local press, has been rigorous, promising a return to full strength by early next season.
WNBA and NBA’s Growing Camaraderie Beyond the Court
Whether Irving ultimately sits courtside at a Wings game remains to be seen. But the mystery of Bueckers’ invitation—and Dallas’ collective yearning for that moment—has already woven itself into the narrative of the 2025 WNBA season.
In a city famed for its sports loyalty, the prospect of uniting its NBA and WNBA heroes in one arena offers a glimpse of basketball’s inclusive future.
For Bueckers, it’s an opportunity to spotlight her rookie season and showcase the city’s unified basketball fandom. For Irving, it’s a chance to rally behind the next generation—and, perhaps, to remind fans why both leagues deserve their unwavering attention.