Paige Bueckers Shares Connecticut Rivalry Chats, UConn Sisterhood Stays Strong
When Paige Bueckers was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings, it came as no surprise. What was even less surprising, however, was her excitement about facing her former UConn teammates
.”Obviously, all the UConn alums — my former teammates Liv, Aaliyah, Nika — and everybody else, and everybody, honestly, I’m just so excited to compete,”
Bueckers said.
“It’s been a childhood dream, and just to be able to share that, and really enjoy that experience.”
So, when the Wings vs Sun game came around, she put on her sisterhood hat and got ready to scream, “
My livvyypoohhh”.
While Dallas took it all in the end, regardless of the wins or losses, their sisterhood remains intact. It’s as sweet as when Liv was drafted in 2022. Paige Bueckers couldn’t help dancing in her dorm room while watching it on television. She even gave a loud shoutout to
“LA”
for picking Olivia
Nelson
-Ododa.
For Paige Bueckers, this latest matchup wasn’t just about basketball, it was a full-circle moment. Earning her first professional win was already something, but doing it in Connecticut, on the very floor where she made a name for herself with the UConn Huskies, made it unforgettable. And add in the courtside reunion with Olivia Nelson-Ododa, the night delivered both highlights and heart. Even before the game between the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun tipped off, fans at Mohegan Sun Arena were treated to something special. A candid pregame interaction between Bueckers and Nelson-Ododa – that was full of laughter, teasing, and a warm hug – quickly found its way online. But there was another laughter shared that melted hearts more.
After their latest game, in the postgame presser, an interviewer asked Paige about that very moment. He said,
“I saw you and Olivia were sharing a little laugh. She blocked you, and then you got the jumper off in front of her. Just what’s it been like facing her again now as an opponent?”
And Paige, of course,
lit up at the question
. She opened with
“Super fun. Me and Liv obviously go way back; she’s like a sister to me.”
That tells you all there is to know about their bond. She continued to address the specific moment and said,
“And we’ve been talking smack about how she hasn’t blocked me yet. So I told her she got her one, but I got it right back.”
It all happened when Nelson stretched out her arm and cleanly blocked Paige Bueckers’ three-point attempt from the wing. But rather than tension, the moment sparked a grin between the two. Bueckers then darted toward the paint, caught a swift feed from Dallas Wings center Li Yueru, and rose for a smooth jumper. Nelson-Ododa trailed closely but couldn’t close the gap in time. As the shot fell, Bueckers pointed at her former teammate, and Olivia responded with a knowing shake of her head and a laugh. “
So it was fair game
,” Paige summed it up.
But the reunion extended beyond just these two on the court. The spirit of UConn basketball could be spotted throughout the arena. In the crowd, current Huskies players Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold proudly sported Bueckers’ Dallas jersey. Coach Geno Auriemma and his wife, Kathy, were there as well, taking their seats beside former Husky standout and now Sun GM Morgan Tuck. Even the stands were full with Bueckers faithful who started waiting in line long before the game began and their presence was just as powerful. Late in the fourth quarter, as Sun’s Tina Charles stepped to the line for free throws, someone from the stands shouted, “
I love you, Paige!
” That could be considered awkward, but one thing is very clear.
Mohegan Sun might officially be Connecticut’s court, but for that night, it belonged to only and only Bueckers with an energy that was impossible to ignore. So, with Bueckers back, it seems like Dallas might finally be finding its groove. Their
No. 1 overall pick is the one leading it
. Paige Bueckers dropped 20 points vs. the Valkyries and followed it up with 21 more against the Sun. She led the Wings to back-to-back wins. Dallas just might be turning the corner, and it’s not too late.
Paige Bueckers’ new pick-and-roll partner
Those analysts who claimed Dallas had no chemistry might want to rethink their take. Because it looks like Li Yueru was exactly what the Wings needed all along. After their latest win, Paige Bueckers didn’t hold back when talking about her new teammate. She said,
“It’s really fun to play with her. She’s super smart and has a high IQ… chemistry will continue to keep building. But she plays extremely hard.”
Yep, she’s talking about the 6’7” center who
flew under the radar coming from Seattle
but is now making a huge difference in Dallas. Back in Seattle, Li Yueru was stuck in a loaded frontcourt, and she didn’t hide her frustration before leaving.
“I came to America only for one reason: to play basketball. This team is really perfect. (This) is the best team I’ve ever been on. We have the best post player in the world, we have 4 post players, and I don’t feel I have enough time.”
Fast forward to now, she’s finally getting some real minutes, and she is taking full advantage, especially with Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsoder out. And it’s paying off for Dallas, too; they are starting to click at just the right time. Even critics like Lucy Rhoden
can let out a sigh of relief.
“
I don’t even know at this point. I’m always affirmed that in any sport you’ve got to give a little bit of time
,” Lucy had said. “
Because things are going to, like, if you’re bringing in a new coach, if you’re bringing in new players, if you’re starting a new system: there needs to be an adjustment period
.
However, the Wings were so bad that I’m like, “I don’t even know if I believe this anymore.”
With tough wins piling up and the team’s chemistry growing, Dallas is also boosting Paige Bueckers’ Rookie of the Year case. And in a league where analysts like Monica McNutt value team success as much as stats, Bueckers now has both momentum and big wins backing her up. Stay tuned for what’s coming next.
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