Dallas women's basketball team, the Wings, initiate their preseason with the arrival of top draftee Paige Beuckers as their number one selection.
Get psyched, basketball fans! Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is set to make her pro debut on Friday night as the Dallas Wings take on the Las Vegas Aces.
The Wings weren't exactly a powerhouse last season, finishing second to last with a dismal 9-31 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since the pandemic shortened the 2020 season. But with Bueckers in the lineup, there's reason to believe they'll turn things around.
Bueckers played her college ball at UConn, where she averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game en route to a national championship victory. She was known for her do-it-all ability, elevating her teammates and taking control of games whenever needed.
Bueckers will have some fresh faces to play alongside, like Arike Ogunbowale, who's been a star for the Wings since she was picked fifth overall in the 2019 draft. They also picked up Aziaha James from North Carolina State University at the 12th spot and Madison Scott from Ole Miss, who they took 14th overall. The three rookies will be competing for roster spots, and there's optimism they can all make an impact.
But the Wings have made more than just player changes – they've also shaken things up in their front office. In November, they brought Curt Miller aboard as general manager. With coaching experience with the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun, Miller was also voted the WNBA executive of the year in 2017 and has twice been named coach of the year. He also hired Chris Koclanes as head coach, who has over a decade of experience at both the WNBA and NCAA levels.
Bueckers may be excited to play her first pro game, but she's no stranger to the spotlight. With over 2.5 million followers on Instagram, she boasts a fanbase even larger than Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's. And she'll be filling a void left by Luka Doncic's trade earlier this year.
This preseason will mark the last time the Wings play at the University of Texas at Arlington's College Park Center. They've agreed to move into Memorial Arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center downtown for a 15-year, $19 million deal, part of the city's efforts to rejuvenate the downtown area. But one night only, the Wings will play at the American Airlines Center against the Indiana Fever on June 27 in what's sure to be an exciting matchup against Caitlin Clark.
Friday night's pre-season clash begins at 6 p.m. – don't miss it!
Arike Ogunbowale and the newest additions to the Dallas Wings, Aziaha James and Madison Scott, along with their promising rookie Paige Bueckers, will vie for roster spots with the hopes of turning around the team's dismal 9-31 record from last season. With the addition of WNBA veteran and executive of the year Curt Miller as general manager, and the hiring of Chris Koclanes as head coach, the Wings have revamped both on and off the court. Paige Bueckers, who boasts over 2.5 million Instagram followers and fills the void left by Luka Doncic's trade, makes her WNBA debut Friday night against the Las Vegas Aces.
After this preseason, the Dallas Wings will move into Memorial Arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center downtown for a 15-year, $19 million deal, as part of the city's efforts to rejuvenate the downtown area. One of the last games at the University of Texas at Arlington's College Park Center will be an exciting matchup between the Wings and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever on June 27. Don't miss Paige Bueckers's debut as the Wings take on the Las Vegas Aces this Friday night at 6 p.m.
