Paige Bueckers' Hometown to Change Its Name for May 16 in Honor of Star's WNBA Debut

Hopkins, MN—the hometown of Paige Bueckers—is very proud of the top overall pick in this year's WNBA draft for the Dallas Wings.

The city has voted to celebrate "Paige Bueckers Day" and rename itself after the former UConn star for one day on May 16, which coincides with her WNBA debut.

Bueckers, 23, just led UConn to a national title, the culmination of a fantastic college career. In five years in Storrs she averaged 19.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three. She was a three-time Associated Press All-America selection and the AP Player of the Year in her freshman season.

That made her a no-brainer selection for Dallas at No. 1 overall, giving the city a new potential superstar to root for after the shocking trade of Luka Dončić by the Mavericks.

"Very early on, it was Paige and Paige only," general manager Curt Miller told reporters of the team's evaluation process. "She's such a special player — efficient, unselfish, and a proven winner. That's the kind of player who shifts a franchise's direction."

The Wings will have a brand new look in 2025 after going just 9-31 last year, with the offseason addition of veterans like DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Tyasha Harris and Myisha Hines-Allen. The Wings also selected Aziaha James No. 12 overall. But Bueckers is immediately the new face of the franchise.

"It's not a rebuild—it's a build," she told reporters. "The vision they've shared with me is exciting, and I'm ready to give everything I have to this team and this city."

Her old hometown can't wait to see her begin that process.