“‘Who’s this little peanut out there?!’ You could see she was special, even at that age.” Hopkins’ coach Brian Cosgriff said, recalling when he first saw second grader Paige Bueckers taking on the fifth and sixth grader opponents. Little did he know that the same ‘Peanut’ would lead her side to a 30-0 record and the Class AAAA state championship game. Her time at Hopkins was a base for her basketball skill set and also her lovable personality, which has now translated into stardom. And so the city kept checking on her from time to time, and now that she is in the WNBA, as the first overall pick, ready to make her debut, the City Council has a special gift for her.

Born in Edina, Paige Bueckers had already started dribbling at the tender age of 5 years. Her performances on the basketball court made her a household name in the town with just over 15K Population. Paige also reciprocated the fame well. Recalling her games and love she received at such a young age, coach Cosgriff said, “I’ll never forget after every game her senior year, we’d have 200-300 people waiting outside our locker room. She would stay and sign (autographs). She would sign or take pictures with every one of them.” So, it is understandable why the coach felt more than a little emotional when Bueckers was back home to lead UConn to an NCAA championship.

During her college days, Paige never shied away from showing support for her Hopkins team. She posted “Another One…RTH“ on her Instagram story after Hopkins won the Class 4A state championship. And she always made sure she gave back to the ‘village’ that made her success possible. She didn’t just keep it to words, and even opened a free grocery store inside Hopkins West Junior High. So, now that Paige has taken another step in her journey, the City of Hopkins decided to give her a special honour.

The Hopkins city council voted to celebrate “Paige Bueckers Day” on May 16, Paige’s official WNBA debut with the Dallas Wings. The city also voted unanimously to rename Hopkins to “Paige Bueckers, Minn.,” for the day. A day and a city named after Paige Bueckers? One can only imagine how much the Dallas rookie is loved by her natives.

This certainly doubles the great month Paige is having – the NCAA title in the first week of April, the first overall selection near the end of the month and now a city named after you with a day being celebrated to praise your accomplishments.

Hopkins will also be rolling out their own orange carpet to celebrate the WNBA season tip-off in true hometown style. They are turning May 16 into a festival with local flavor, urging all local businesses to join in on the fun with game-day specials and live screenings. In their official announcement, the city made sure everyone knew of Bueckers’ greatness, writing, “While playing with the Huskies, and despite many injuries and setbacks, Bueckers set gained numerous accolades and awards, winning both the Naismith and Wooden Awards and ending her college career by leading the school to its 12th national title“. And they ended the statement with these five words that truly read empowering – because everybody watches women’s sports. 

Coach Brian Cosgriff often describes Paige as a ‘special talent’ with her basketball IQ and gameplay. Mesmerised by Paige’s abilities, he once said, “And to say she’s from Minnesota? And for me to say I got to spend five years with her? God is smiling on me, my friend.” Paige Bueckers also proved his earlier predictions correct, becoming a great player. He even called Bueckers the next Sue Bird or Diana Taurasi. And that reminds us of how the City of Seattle had permanently renamed the portion of Second Ave North between Denny Way and Lenny Wilkens Way “Sue Bird Court.” So, don’t be surprised when there is an announcement of a “Paige Bueckers Court” next.

Paige Bueckers’ dream debut and impact on WNBA are already visible

Dallas Wings will play its first game against her favourite team as a child – the Minnesota Lynx. The matchup is perfect for Paige. A dream debut, to be honest. The College Park Center tickets? Sold out as expected already. Wings are failing to put a price on the tickets, the demand is high and sudden. On Vivid Seats, prices range from $78 all the way to $2000. Talk about the effect.

While this is just one game that Paige will start her career with, the WNBA ticket prices for other Dallas Wings games are also touching the sky. The average ticket price is up by 38% compared to the last season, as per SeatGeek. The mega fixture, Fever vs Wings, or shall we officially call it Clark vs Bueckers, ticket prices are averaging a staggering $449. Yet, the ticket sales shot up 11x compared to the five days before the draft. And the fans visiting the Wings games shot up by 920%.

Dallas Wings’ official website also experienced a 905% surge in visits.  A massive effect that could even overshadow the previous season’s upscale. Taking the league to a whole different level. Fans just now have one question in mind – is the WNBA ready for this?