Paige Bueckers Locked In to Torch Her Childhood Team

ARLINGTON — Practice felt sharp today. Focused.

Dallas looks like a team fully aware of who’s waiting on the other end of the schedule.

Minnesota is next and for Paige Bueckers, going against the Minnesota Lynx means a little more.

“Def full circle,” Bueckers said after practice. “I went to a lot of their games growing up watching that dynasty. I was their biggest fan. I’m ready for the experience. I don’t take it for granted. It’ll be really cool. Really fun.”

There’s no mistaking it — this game means a lot to Bueckers. Playing against her hometown team in front of her new team, inside of Dallas’ home floor. Bueckers is stepping onto the same court with the franchise that ignited her basketball dreams.

The hometown team. The childhood obsession.

But now, she’s going against the Lynx as one of their biggest problems.

System Player, Bucket Getter

From the moment camp opened, Bueckers has looked like a player who skipped the rookie curve altogether. Bueckers plays with a kind of fluency that doesn’t need translation.

Just film.

“She’s a hoop junkie,” said head coach Chris Koclanes. “She just devours whatever you tell her and so quick to put it into action. You couldn’t ask more from a rookie.”

It’s safe to say that the game slows down in her hands. Reads get sharper. The offense feels cleaner. She’s not chasing numbers. She’s hunting advantages — and hitting the right option nearly every time.

“From high school, from college, we’ve always played in a system where no player is bigger than the team,” Bueckers said. “We love sharing the ball, getting into action, love making the extra pass… it’s def something I’ve grown accustomed to.”

It’s not flash. It’s substance. But when she decides to go get one?

It’s buckets time.

Off the Court, Still Making Moves

However, the jumper was not the only piece of attention today.

Bueckers today was also announced as DoorDash’s new Creative Director. This is a huge a branding move that makes sense for a player already living at the intersection of hoops and influence.

“Very cool,” she said. “I’ve been a fan of DoorDash, been using DoorDash for a very long time now. I’ve spent a lot of money on that app… to partner with them, it’s been really cool.”

She said it with a laugh. But she means it. The endorsement game is evolving — and Bueckers is already one of the faces shaping that future. All without losing an ounce of focus.

Because the real delivery is coming this weekend — and she’s bringing it to the Target Center.

NaLyssa’s Scouting Report

Meanwhile, while Bueckers looked back on Minnesota memories, NaLyssa Smith was looking straight ahead. The game against the Minnesota Lynx is not about nostalgia. It’s a huge litmus test. Smith is focused on the entire matchup.

“They’re a great team,” Smith said of the Lynx. “They’re a championship team. They have Napheesa Collier, they have a lot of great players that have been in MVP conversations. It’ll be a tough game for us but we’re excited for it.”

Smith’s been burying jumpers in practice, taking space with confidence and leaning into her physicality. There’s a steadiness to her game right now and a readiness.

Trust the Work

Head coach Chris Koclanes had the Wings running clock situations. Emphasizing communication. Drilling timing, and working on spacing.

Every person on the team is a leader in their own right. It does not matter if you were a first-year rookie or a max contract vet, each rep had intention. Every drill had a consequence.

That’s the tone this group is setting.

On one front you’ve got Arike curling off pin-downs, Teaira sealing deep, and Bueckers slinging passes like she’s been here five years.

The rookie doesn’t just belong. She’s part of the rhythm.

This weekend in Dallas, Paige Bueckers gets to play on the court with a franchise she once watched from the stands. But she’s not starstruck. She’s not emotional.

She’s dialed in. Confident. Poised to get buckets against the franchise she grew up admiring.

So if you’re tuning in expecting nerves?

Don’t.