After securing a win against the Connecticut Sun last month, Paige Bueckers extended her winning streak at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The guard, who played at the arena during her illustrious college career at the University of Connecticut, enjoyed a 15-0 record in the building and kept the streak going in her WNBA career (2-0).
While an opponent enjoying such dominance on your home floor is rarely welcomed into the arena, the case for Bueckers is different. Having spent 5 years at UConn(including her redshirt season), Bueckers became a fan favorite for her standout performances and vibrant personality. And although her allegiances now lie in Dallas, Connecticut still welcomed her back like its own.
Paige Bueckers Drops Team-High Points After Getting Love From Mohegan Sun Arena
As the starting lineup for the Dallas Wings was being introduced prior to tip-off, the arena remained largely quiet, barring cheers from a few travelling fans. However, that wasn’t the case when Bueckers was being introduced.
A loud roar was heard around the arena as the rookie’s name was called out. The guard broke plenty of records during her tenure at UConn, including the most points in the NCAA tournament by a Husky, for which she surpassed her idol Maya Moore.
Loud ovation for Paige Bueckers in the Dallas Wings’ starting lineup introduction at Mohegan Sun Arena. pic.twitter.com/qieDyR7aIp
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) June 20, 2025
After a warm welcome, Bueckers knew she must go to work. Especially with her former coach, Geno Auriemma, in attendance. The rookie did just that as she scored 21 points and dished out seven assists in 37 minutes, making seven of her 16 shots.
This marks a significant improvement for Bueckers, who had not reached the 20-point mark in her first four games but has now done so in four of her last six matchups.
The performance comes off the back of a hard-fought win against the Golden State Valkyries at home, marking just the third win for the Wings this season. Having started off the season with four straight losses, Dallas currently finds itself at the bottom of the table with a 3-11 record.
But with Bueckers being able to impose herself on the game now as she settles into the league, Chris Koclanes’ side would hope these wins provide the momentum needed for a Playoff push.
Bueckers’ performances have also seen her climb the ladder in the Rookie of the Year race, where she has appeared the favorite ever since her arrival. However, early season woes and strong performances from Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen sparked discussions over the award going another way. But with Bueckers finding form, she is back in the conversations again.
Bueckers has now registered the same number of 20-point games (4) as all other rookies combined, reclaiming her status as the frontrunner in the race for the award. And while the win was sure to delight her, adding to the delight was the presence of her UConn squad. The team came out to cheer Bueckers on and stayed to get pictures clicked with their alum post-game.
