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Cooper Flagg Makes Paige Bueckers Statement During Mavericks Introductory Press Conference

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 2:59 PM ET

Just a couple months ago, the future looked bleak for Dallas' two professional basketball teams. The NBA's Mavericks had dealt franchise player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning trade, while the WNBA's Wings had finished the 2024 season with a 9-31 record - the team's worst mark, by winning percentage, since it moved to Dallas in 2016.

But on April 14, the Wings drafted UConn star Paige Bueckers with the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Eleven days later, the Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery, earning the right to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg first overall - something that came to fruition on Wednesday night.

After Bueckers congratulated and welcomed Flagg to Dallas on Thursday, Flagg had the chance to respond Friday during his first press conference as a Maverick.

Cooper Flagg on Paige Bueckers: pic.twitter.com/ytKAVDTgTr
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) June 27, 2025

"She's great," Flagg said of Bueckers. "I went on a visit to UConn, I was able to meet her and talk a little bit. She's a great person, she's had an incredible career so far."

Bueckers entered the WNBA off the back of leading UConn to its first national championship in nine years. Despite missing four games through illness or injury this season, Bueckers is already emerging as a future superstar for a Wings team that sits near the bottom of the league standings; through 12 games, she is averaging 17.7 points and 5.8 assists in the WNBA.

I asked Cooper Flagg about Paige Bueckers giving him a hard time (sarcastically) for going to Duke over UConn: “She’s great. Obviously I went on a visit to UConn. I was able to meet her, talk a little bit… She’s had an incredible career so far. I think it’s funny, that’s just…
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 27, 2025

This is an immediate impact that Flagg will hope to replicate for the Mavericks, after his one season at Duke culminated in a Final Four appearance and a Naismith Men's College Player of the Year nod.

Flagg led the Blue Devils in points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks last season, pointing toward a player who can contribute immediately and substantially in the NBA.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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