'This One’s a Little Sweeter': Paige Bueckers Reflects on Full-Circle Moment at Target Center

For Bueckers, the return is personal. Born in Edina and raised in Minnetonka, she starred at Hopkins High School just miles from the arena. She led the Royals to the 2019 state championship and was a three-time Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year before rising to national prominence at UConn.

“I have a lot of family — my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents — and then a lot of my former teammates from Hopkins and my AAU teams coming out to support,” Bueckers said. “Just to have them here means everything to me.”

Wednesday will mark her first professional appearance in Minnesota — but not her first time playing at Target Center. She competed there in the high school state tournament and later returned during the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four with UConn. Now, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, she completes the trifecta with her WNBA debut on the same floor.

April 2025 marked the first official “Paige Bueckers Day” in Hopkins, celebrating her professional debut and impact on the local community.

Early Impact, High Expectations with Dallas Wings

Bueckers has impressed early in her rookie campaign, averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks through two games. She finished with 19 points and eight assists in a 79-71 loss to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, helping trim a 17-point deficit to just three before Dallas ran out of gas late.

In the season opener, also against Minnesota, Bueckers posted 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. The Wings were tied at halftime but were blitzed in the third quarter as Napheesa Collier scored 18 of her 34 points to lead the Lynx to a 99-84 victory.

“I think our defense on the point of attack, and Courtney Williams and Phee’s ability to really get whatever they wanted out of the pick and roll — so I think we need to be better at the point of attack,” Bueckers said. “Trying to congest the paint, not let so many easy touches in there… and offensively, get more in transition, get more paint touches, change sides of the floor.”

Beyond the game, Wednesday’s homecoming is steeped in symbolism. Bueckers has long represented Minnesota basketball on a national stage, and her return to play professionally has sparked local celebration.

“I try to enjoy every single moment,” she said. “But this one’s a little sweeter because it’s back home.”

If her schedule allows, she said she may visit a few favorite food spots: Bruegger’s Bagels, Noodles & Company, Jimmy John’s, and Leeann Chin.

As Dallas searches for its first win of the season, Bueckers’ presence on and off the court remains a bright spot. For the 23-year-old guard, this stop on the calendar is more than just another game — it’s a celebration of how far she’s come and where it all began.