Paige Bueckers took the floor for her first WNBA preseason game on Friday night, as the Dallas Wings faced Las Vegas Aces. The matchup, held at the home of Notre Dame women’s basketball, gave fans their first look at the No. 1 overall pick in a professional setting. While the Aces cruised to a 112-78 win, coach Chris Koclanes is content with Bueckers’ performance.
Bueckers, fresh off a national title with UConn just 27 days ago, finished with 10 points, four rebounds and an assist. “The game is slow for her,” Koclanes said at practice on Sunday, in a video shared by journalist Myah Taylor. “Usually, there’s a transition period… but the pace with which she plays already is just different.”
The Wings selected Bueckers to be the cornerstone of a long-term rebuild. Dallas went 9–31 last season, avoiding the league’s worst record by a single game. Their .225 winning percentage was the franchise’s lowest since its Tulsa Shock days in 2011. With that in mind, the organization isn’t expecting overnight success, but Bueckers can help them step in the right direction.
Friday’s result was a reminder of the gap between contenders and teams in transition. The Aces, loaded with veteran talent, controlled the tempo from the start. Still, Bueckers found ways to get involved, showing flashes of the court vision and offensive instincts that made her a top pick.
In that sense, Koclanes praised Bueckers’ ability to read the game at a high level, even in her first taste of WNBA action. “We’re excited to have that on our side,” he said. For a team needing leadership and consistency, her presence brings hope for progress.
Dallas Wings’ next match
Bueckers will get another chance to acclimate this weekend when the Wings face Japan’s Toyota Antelopes in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, May 10. It will be another low-pressure opportunity to test rotations and give the rookie more minutes in a pro setting.
Dallas officially opens the 2025 WNBA season at home on May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx. With expectations tempered but optimism growing, the Bueckers era has quietly begun.