It’s been a tough start to Paige Bueckers’ WNBA journey. Despite averaging close to 18 points and 6 assists, the Wings have just one win in 12 games. Definitely not the start she hoped for. Still, there’s excitement in the air for the next game against the Golden State Valkyries. One reason? A possible face off against her old UConn teammate, Kaitlyn Chen. But that’s not the only storyline to watch out for!

The Wings are coming off one of the toughest heartbreaks of their season. Up by 11 with under four minutes to go against an A’ja Wilson-less Aces side, the Wings still managed to lose the game by letting the Aces go on an 18-2 run. To make matters worse, 14 of those points came from the free-throw line. An absolute shocker at the Michelob ULTRA Arena! But the upcoming game against the Golden State Valkyries gives Paige Bueckers and co a shot at redemption. And for Bueckers, this one means a little more!

According to Just Women’s Sports, Geno Auriemma will be in Dallas to witness Paige and Kaitlyn Chen face off. That alone raises the stakes. It’ll be the first time the 71‑year‑old coach will be in the stands to watch Paige play. The legendary coach, who led UConn to 12 NCAA titles, was by Paige’s side throughout her college journey. His presence on Tuesday makes the moment all the more meaningful. But the game will be equally important for Chen, too.

This comes after the Valkyries announced the re-signing of former Husky guard Kaitlyn Chen, just months after waiving her before the season began. Now, she’s set to face the Wings and go head-to-head against her former teammate. The two shared the backcourt at UConn during a magical 37–3 run that ended with a national title earlier this year. Chen averaged 6.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in her lone season as a Husky. And with Geno Auriemma expected in the crowd, watching his former stars go head-to-head certainly adds a new layer to this game.

While Kaitlyn Chen is set to make her WNBA debut on Tuesday, Paige Bueckers will take the floor for her ninth game of the season. The Wings rookie has been impressive, putting up 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. But with just one win to show for it, she’ll be eager to deliver another, especially with her former coach present in the building. Chen, too, will be hoping to perform well and convert her hardship contract into a permanent roster spot. This match promises plenty!

The Wings’ front office have also made a bold move in hopes of turning the season around. Let’s dive into it!

Li Yueru comes in to change the fortunes of Paige Bueckers and co

After losing both Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsoder to the FIBA EuroBasket tournament, the Dallas Wings were in massive need of front-court depth, and they addressed it by getting Seattle Storm’s Li Yueru, who had made it clear that she wanted to leave the franchise in pursuit of regular minutes.

“She’s a really good three-point shooter—we’re confident in her ability to space,” Koclanes said. “But we’ve got to encourage her to also bring that size to the rim, put pressure on the paint, and use it for offensive rebounding. That’s where she can make a real impact.”

It’ll be exciting to see how the pairing of Paige Bueckers and Li Yueru help the Wings going forward. Can their pick-and-roll game light it up and lead Dallas to a win over the Valkyries? Or will the presence of Geno Auriemma be the extra fuel Bueckers needs to deliver win number two? Stay tuned to find out!