Paige Bueckers has been here before, but never quite like this. The prodigy who once packed arenas as UConn’s floor general is set to open her WNBA career against a team she once idolized. The Dallas Wings’ No. 5 jersey will debut under the bright lights against the Minnesota Lynx—a franchise she used to cheer for as a kid. Now, the kid’s grown up, and the stage is hers. The question is: will she own it?

“It’s definitely full circle how I went to a lot of their games growing up, watching that dynasty play out, I was their biggest fan,” Bueckers said, reflecting on the moment. “Now I’m apart of a different organization playing against them, so it’s very cool to experience. I don’t take it for granted. … It’ll be really cool and fun and sort of surreal.” Her words echo the feeling of a rookie who’s ready, not rattled.

But who are the starting 5 for bueckers debut

Starting 5 & Injury Report: Who’s Suiting Up?

Bueckers will slot right into the Wings’ starting five, flanked by experienced scorers and gritty defenders. Coach Chris Koclanes is expected to roll with:

• Myisha Hines-Allen (#2)
• NaLyssa Smith (#1)
• Arike Ogunbowale (#24)
• DiJonai Carrington (#21)
• Paige Bueckers (#5)

Carrington, fresh off a Most Improved Player season, and Ogunbowale, Dallas’s scoring dynamo, will give Bueckers room to orchestrate. Hines-Allen and Smith add rebounding muscle and interior scoring, forming a well-rounded unit.

Minnesota’s lineup has familiar faces but some question marks. The likely starters:

• Karlie Samuelson (#44)
• Jessica Shepard (#15)
• Bridget Carleton (#6)
• Napheesa Collier (#24)
• Courtney Williams (#10)

However, the Lynx face early-season hurdles. Kayla McBride is out due to personal reasons, and Alanna Smith (quadriceps) is doubtful. 

Dallas has its own concerns. Guard Tyasha Harris (knee) is probable after missing preseason action. Center Luisa Geiselsoder remains unavailable due to overseas commitments. But overall, the Wings’ core is intact and primed for battle.

Prediction & Key Matchup: Bueckers Steps into the Fire

This game might look like a classic veteran vs rookie duel at first glance, but Bueckers is no ordinary rookie, and neither does she have to lift the load alone. Her basketball IQ and poise have long been her calling cards, and with veterans like Ogunbowale beside her, she won’t carry the load alone.

On the other side, Napheesa Collier—the Lynx’s heartbeat—will be the toughest cover. Collier averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season, finishing runner-up in MVP voting. Her leadership anchors Minnesota’s ambitions. In fact, she has gotta scary mindset this season, “There is pressure,” Collier admitted in an interview recently. “The pressure is from knowing what we’re capable of. But I’ve always said I like pressure. I think it helps you perform to your best self.”

But the Lynx’s success last season, a 30-10 record capped by a Finals appearance, doesn’t guarantee a repeat. As coach Reeve put it, “Each iteration of the Lynx is different. Things change. Life hits people. There are a lot of reasons why things aren’t exactly the same. So you have to figure out what this team is.”

That self-discovery process might be rocky without certain players. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Lynx a 60.8% chance to win—numbers that dont reflect the whole story.

However, we predict a Dallas Wings to win, as they haven’t properly clicked in the pre season but Paige has always done better with higher pressure at UConn and if even 50 % of it transfers to the WNBA, things can change.

The Wings have reloaded with Carrington’s two-way prowess and Hines-Allen’s veteran presence. Their frontcourt can match Minnesota’s physicality, while the backcourt, led by Ogunbowale’s scoring punch and Bueckers’ vision, is poised to dictate tempo.

For Bueckers, every possession will be a brushstroke on her pro canvas. Whether it’s threading a no-look dime or calmly sinking a pull-up jumper, she’ll be painting her WNBA identity.

The Wings, playing at home in Arlington, have the momentum, the matchups, and the hunger. Expect Dallas to notch a hard-fought win, with Bueckers making a statement that she belongs—not just as a name on the jersey, but as the next big star.