'Being Where Our Feet Are': Paige Bueckers Talks Emotional Minnesota WNBA Homecoming

The stands at Target Center were lined with Hopkins and UConn jerseys, a reflection of the local legend’s deep roots in Minnesota basketball. From high school dominance to a national title run at UConn, Bueckers’ journey brought her back to a familiar court — this time as a professional.

“It’s crazy,” Bueckers said. “I’m not really trying to think about it too much when I’m on the court, but just the perspective of playing here in high school, then in college, and now in the WNBA—it means a lot.”

Many in the crowd had followed her from her earliest days. Youth players, young girls in her jerseys, and hometown fans all came out to watch one of Minnesota’s most celebrated players begin a new chapter. But while the occasion was emotional for many, Bueckers herself remained grounded.

“We’ve been talking about as a team—just being where our feet are,” Bueckers said. “Not really focusing on any exterior things, but what we want to be as an interior group and what we want to be as an organization and as a team.”

Paige Bueckers Shows Leadership in Action

Bueckers’ performance was critical in keeping Dallas within striking distance down the stretch. She assisted on several key baskets during a fourth-quarter rally, including a deep three from DiJonai Carrington and a corner triple by Arike Ogunbowale that brought the Wings within two points in the final minute.

She’s now increased her assist and steal totals in each of her first three games — a sign of rapid adjustment and rising confidence despite facing an elite Lynx defense in two of her first three games.

“I think just having the ball in my hands a little bit more, trying to create plays for my teammates and for myself,” Bueckers said. “A lot of times we’re just making the right play as a team.”

Her playmaking and decision-making under pressure, combined with her postgame tone, mirrored the maturity and calm that made her a generational leader at UConn.

“You try to reflect that every single time you play—with the passion and joy and heart that you play with,” Bueckers said. “So you take it and carry it with you wherever you go.”

A New Link in Minnesota’s Basketball Legacy

Bueckers’ night added another chapter to the story of Minnesota women’s basketball. From watching Lindsay Whalen and the Lynx dynasty as a young fan to now playing on that same court, Bueckers is stepping into the lineage of homegrown greatness.

Her presence is already inspiring the next generation. Fans in the building included young girls from across the state who grew up idolizing her and now see her as the proof point that their dreams are reachable.

Bueckers’ legacy in Minnesota is still being written — but if her first homecoming is any indication, it will be defined by more than accolades. It will be built on humility, leadership, and a deep commitment to the game and the people it brings together.