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A'ja Wilson shares what she admires about Paige Bueckers' game
Before she was a multi-time MVP and champion in the WNBA, A'ja Wilson was a No. 1 pick with lofty expectations. Now an established superstar with the Las Vegas Aces, she opened up about the league's latest top prospect.
Heading into the 2025 WNBA Draft, everyone had their eye on Paige Bueckers. Following an impressive college career at UConn, the versatile guard was selected No. 1 by the Dallas Wings. Not far removed from winning a national championship, Bueckers now hopes to become a cornerstone for the WNBA franchise.
During a recent appearance on the "Sports Seriously" show, Wilson was asked what she liked most about the Wings' newest addition. The Aces' center went on to applaud Bueckers for how she carries herself on and off the basketball court.
"Her composure," Wilson said. "She plays like with a sense of I've been here before. Whether it's a championship game or it's the first game of the season, her composure is something that has really stuck with me and how she just carries herself on an off the court is just gonna go so far."
Before making the jump to the pros, Bueckers had one of her best all-around seasons at UConn. Across 38 matchups, she averaged 19.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG and 2.1 SPG.
After playing for one of the premier programs in women's college basketball, Bueckers now finds herself in a much different situation. The Wings had the league's second-worst record last season, and hope their influx of young talent will help them climb the standings in 2025 and beyond.
More must-reads:
- Kyrie Irving sends message to Wings' Paige Bueckers after WNBA Draft
- WNBA GM not expecting Caitlin Clark-like impact from Paige Bueckers
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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Steelers Insider Reveals Timeline for WR Move
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a wide receiver move on the horizon. On the latest episode of the "Kaboly + Mack" podcast, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly stated that he wouldn't be surprised if the team were to add a receiver to their roster in the near future. "I don't think any time within the next week, but something might be coming down the pike here," Kaboly said. "I'll put it this way: I would not be shocked within the next 10 to 12 days that they add a receiver. I was under the impression that they're just gonna play it out like they are right now. 'We have [Roman] Wilson, [Calvin] Austin, we're going with that'. I was pretty much sure of that. I don't know if I'm as sure of that anymore." Adding depth at receiver has remained a focus for Pittsburgh throughout the entire offseason. It landed its new No. 1 option in DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks just ahead of free agency and later traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, but the organization has done little outside of that to address the position. While signing Robert Woods to a one-year deal brings a veteran presence to the room, he's also 33-years-old and recorded just 203 yards over 15 games with the Houston Texans last season. The Steelers are hoping for a bounce-back sophomore campaign from Wilson after playing just five snaps during his rookie season, and while he performed well in the team's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, he still has more to prove moving forward. Austin was a key piece of Pittsburgh's offense last year and is slated to remain the team's primary slot receiver, but he's also currently dealing with a minor abdominal muscle injury and missed significant time towards the end of training camp. Tight end Jonnu Smith could essentially operate as a receiver for the Steelers due to his versatility and receiving prowess, but they could certainly use depth beyond him. With the deadline for final rosters cut set for 4 p.m. EST on August 26, Pittsburgh should have some enticing receiver options come available over the next two weeks or so alongside the veterans already residing on the free agent market.
Bears make big preseason decision amid reports of Caleb Williams' training-camp struggles
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason about whether he would have a chance to set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future, given his free-agent status, created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
Rising rookie Commanders overlooked is turning camp into his own showcase
It was clear soon after the 2025 NFL Draft concluded that the Washington Commanders were locked in on Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall. However, one prospect who went a few picks later is already filling people around the league with immense regret. Adam Peters faced a nervous wait for Conerly. The general manager thought his primary offensive tackle target might go a lot higher, and he didn't hesitate to pull the trigger when given the chance. It's been a rocky transition for the Oregon product so far, but nothing to overly concern. Conerly's starting to put it together en route to potentially securing the starting right tackle job. Even if he achieves this objective, there will be some growing pains based on what fans have seen from the first-year pro so far. Josh Simmons is already making Commanders (and everyone else) pay for overlooking him Things are going a lot better for Josh Simmons, who was taken No. 32 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was widely considered among the most prolific tackles in this class, but a serious knee injury suffered during his final season at Ohio State saw his stock take a major hit. Simmons immediately silenced his doubters. He's shown no ill effects from the complication this summer. He's instantly locked down the starting blindside role in Kansas City, and his performance in their preseason opener only raises optimism further about what he could be capable of long-term. This didn't go unnoticed by Andy Reid. The Chiefs' head coach was suitably impressed by Simmons' contribution, crediting his exceptional work ethic and ability to take on coaching without fuss as reasons behind his early surge. I wasn't screaming at him, so I figured he did okay. He looked like he had a solid day, especially for his first game; he's been working his tail off. That kid never complains about anything; he just goes.Andy Reid via USA Today If Simmons continues with the rapid ascent, he could become Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector for the rest of his career. There were legitimate reasons for other teams, including the Commanders, to look at alternatives. However, they were not based on his athletic ability and consistency on the biggest stages. The Commanders had conviction in Conerly. Hopefully, he'll end up having a profitable career in Washington. But if he and other draft picks don't meet expectations, Peters won't be the only one kicking himself about passing up the chance to take Simmons. Time will tell. But make no mistake, there's a long way to go and a lot of football to play before those judgments can be made. More Commanders news and analysis
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