Paige Bueckers is one of the biggest basketball stars in the world right now, even before she plays a minute in the WNBA. She seems to be gaining more popularity as time passes, and expectations will be sky-high as she enters the league as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Before she was a globally known athlete, she was just a little girl with a ball in her hands. Her father, Bob Bueckers, recognized her talent early on. As her first coach, he helped shape the toughness and style of play that define her game. Let’s learn more about the phenom’s parents.
Who Are Paige Bueckers’ Parents?
Paige was born on October 20, 2001, in Edina, Minn. Her father, Bob, was a software engineer and a former high school point guard. When he saw his daughter’s love for sports, he encouraged her to try football, baseball, and soccer before she ultimately fell in love with basketball.
During her elementary school years, Bob became her first coach, helping her master the fundamentals of the game.
“She literally puts in a ton of time in the gym … working by herself, watching films, watching other players to see what she can incorporate into her game,” Bob said via Justin Colombo of FanBuzz.
Paige’s mother, Amy Dettbarn, also had an athletic background, competing in cross-country and track and field. She earned a biology degree from the University of St. Thomas and then completed her undergraduate training at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In 2008, she earned a master’s degree in periodontics from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.
Paige’s parents divorced when she was just 3 years old. She stayed in Minnesota with her dad, who eventually found love again and had a son, Drew.
Dettbarn also remarried and had two kids, Lauren and Ryan. Even though they lived apart, both parents have always supported Paige’s dreams of playing basketball.
Bob and Drew were often seen cheering her on at high school games, and Dettbarn made sure to be there for important moments, like when Paige was honored as the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player in March 2024.
Paige’s relationship with her siblings is very strong. Her younger brother Drew has always been a regular at her games, and that closeness to a big brother has been an impetus for her to be so passionate about being a social justice warrior.
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In August 2020, she shared a heartfelt message about wanting a better future for Drew.
“At what point do they stop looking at my little brother as a cute little boy and instead as a threat to society? It scares me. I’m going to work for change little brother,” she said. “I want you to grow up in a world that accepts you for who you are.”
Bueckers turns to her siblings for support, and they help keep her grounded, she told “People” magazine in an exclusive interview.
“They’re so disconnected,” she said. “They don’t really talk basketball with me. They just are my little siblings. They just bring me a whole bunch of joy. They have this little kid joy about them.”
Paige owes much of her development as both an athlete and an individual to her family. Their support, along with her own talent and determination, has catapulted her into the spotlight of women’s basketball.
Bueckers’ impressive collegiate career culminated in a national championship, and now she’s expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
In PFSN’s 2025 WNBA Mock Draft, here’s what Brandon Austin wrote about the phenom: “Bueckers is the unquestioned top prospect in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and she further solidified this during UConn’s impressive title run. She averaged 24.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during the NCAA Tournament, flashing her elite playmaking ability.
“Bueckers can take over a game at any time, as evidenced by her three 30-plus point performances during the tournament. She can score at all three levels and create offense not only for herself but also for her teammates. She possesses great size for a guard and shows tenacity on the defensive end of the floor.
“Bueckers has the natural gifts to be a legitimate two-way player in the WNBA, and she gives the Dallas Wings a dynamic backcourt. Arike Ogunbowale is one of the league’s premier scorers (22.2 PPG last season). Bueckers can be the primary ball-handler, which will allow Ogunbowale to play her natural position and do what she does best.”