Just weeks after leading UConn to its record-breaking 12th national championship on April 6 by dropping 17 points in the title game, Paige Bueckers officially stepped onto the WNBA stage. But the transition wasn’t exactly smooth.
In her preseason debut for the Dallas Wings against the Las Vegas Aces on May 2, Bueckers experienced firsthand just how different the pros can be.
The Wings fell hard, 112-78, marking a bumpy start to their 2025 preseason campaign but also serving as a valuable lesson for one of basketball’s most promising young stars.
Paige Bueckers Understood the Difference Between the WNBA and the NCAA
During the postgame interview, Bueckers didn’t shy away from reflecting on the experience. She opened up about the massive difference between playing in the NCAA and the WNBA.
“You’re playing against, especially the Aces, five Olympic-level players and a great team and organization. The pace, the flow of the game, the talent level, that’s what stood out,” said Bueckers during the interview.
Despite the blowout loss, Bueckers showed signs of promise in her first outing. She finished the game with a respectable stat line: 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting. For a rookie making her first preseason appearance in the big leagues, it’s a performance that deserves recognition.
The Wings actually started strong in the first quarter, taking a slim 25-23 lead, with Bueckers contributing four of those points. Her early involvement showed she wasn’t shying away from the moment. But the second quarter told a different story. The Dallas defense began to crumble, and the Aces, powered by their veteran core, took full control. By halftime, the Aces had stormed to a 55-36 lead, which Dallas never recovered from.
“What hurt us was just the live-ball turnovers. Those steals, now, when you’re in transition, it’s really tough to be able to match up and get your defense set. You saw us kind of out there, it looked like we were lost, but a lot of it was off of steals, live-ball turnovers,” said head coach Chris Koclanes regarding what went wrong last night.
Las Vegas, with its loaded roster and championship pedigree, showed exactly why they’re the team to beat. Their ball movement, defensive pressure, and pace were simply on another level. While Dallas had some bright spots — namely, Maddy Siegrist’s 11-point effort — it wasn’t nearly enough to stop the onslaught.
Though the scoreboard was lopsided, the night marked a crucial first step in what could be a legendary career. If her college résumé is any indication, Bueckers isn’t just here to play — she’s here to evolve.
Bueckers Is Aware of Her Place in the Big League
Winning the national championship has catapulted Bueckers into the spotlight, earning her a wave of fame and popularity nearly rivaling that of Caitlin Clark. But fame doesn’t guarantee dominance in the pros, and the Wings’ first preseason game was all it took to remind Bueckers just how steep the climb is in the WNBA.
Despite the Wings’ loss to Las Vegas, much of the media spotlight remained on Bueckers. Yet, rather than leaning into the attention, the rookie guard gave a humbling response.
“I don’t see myself as a celebrity at all. Just a basketball player,” Bueckers said to reporters during her post-game interview.
The Wings simply couldn’t contain A’ja Wilson, who dropped 19 points, or Jewell Loyd, who added another 10. Now, with their final preseason game on May 10 against Japan’s Toyota Antelopes, the focus shifts to growth and adjustment.