While most of us were scrolling past festive snapshots and holiday vibes, one image started making waves across social media: a picture of the Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers appeared out of nowhere on Drake’s social media page.

On Christmas Day, Drake dropped a photo dump with the caption, “And to all a good night…” One of the slides caught extra attention, showing Paige Bueckers wearing her Unrivaled gear from a recent media day appearance. Bueckers even acknowledged the post by sending a like. And what started as a random holiday moment quickly turned into a playful interaction between the worlds of pop culture and the WNBA.

The Dallas Wings quickly jumped into the comment section. Nudging the rapper, they wrote, “sooo now you gotta come to a game mr drake 🤭.”

After making a name for herself in college, Paige Bueckers has quickly proven she belongs among the most complete players in women’s basketball, carrying her scoring efficiency and elite defensive instincts straight into her rookie season in the WNBA.

Also, her presence in Dallas boosted the Wings’ visibility, social media engagement, and competitiveness. Off the court, her humility, team-first approach, and advocacy for other players solidify her influence as a role model, inspiring the next generation of athletes.

Unrivaled Basketball, a new 3×3 women’s league, also joined the fun, and in the comments added: “Wasn’t even bouta comment on this… but it knocks 🧊🥶”

However, this recent feature has Bueckers’ fans worried, thanks to the infamous “Drake Curse.”

Drake is one of the biggest names in music, and a huge sports fan who’s always courtside or dropping big-money bets. That said, he’s just as famous for losing those bets, thanks to the long-running joke known as the “Drake Curse,” where whoever he backs somehow ends up losing.

Over the years, fans have pointed to plenty of examples, from the Chiefs getting blown out by the Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl to Mike Tyson losing to Jake Paul, and most recently Drake dropping $200,000 on Jake Paul before he got knocked out by Anthony Joshua.

But here’s the thing: the curse doesn’t really hold up. Despite the viral losses, Drake’s overall betting record is actually in the green. According to a public tracker of his wagers, he’s up about $213,930 all-time on sports bets. And for the record, he didn’t even place a real bet on Paige Bueckers, so fans can relax on that one, too.

Bueckers’ Unrivaled debut is in no danger.

Paige Bueckers is all set for Unrivaled debut as her offseason spotlight grows

While the viral moment unfolded on social media, Bueckers is also gearing up for her next on-court chapter. The Dallas Wings star is set to make her debut in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league founded by former UConn standouts Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, marking her first competitive action since the 2025 WNBA season ended.

Rather than taking extended time off after a demanding year that included a national title at UConn and her transition into the WNBA, Bueckers opted to stay on the floor. Her involvement with Unrivaled isn’t new either; she was the first college athlete to sign an NIL deal with the league in 2024, a partnership that signaled her long-term belief in the project well before her professional debut.

“It’s obviously different than 5-on-5. It just provides a different aspect, but it’s the same game that we all know and love,” Bueckers said in an interview. “Basketball is played a lot in threes … and it’s basically 1-on-1 magnified, so it really shows if you can guard. That’s the biggest challenge is sitting down and guarding, being able to not always need help and be in a constant rotation.”

Now in Miami, Bueckers will step into the league not just as a participant but as a captain, leading one of Unrivaled’s newest teams, Breeze BC. The opportunity gives her a different stage to showcase her game while keeping her in the spotlight during the WNBA offseason, which is uncertain itself as the CBA negotiation between the WNBA and WNBPA still seems far from over.