It’s Paige Bueckers Day in Minnesota! And the fact that she’s going up against her very own hometown team is a storyline in itself. Imagine the crowd – torn between cheering for their beloved Lynx or the golden girl they watched grow up. But as much as it is sentimental, Paige’s big debut is also the first page in her RoTY campaign and a clean slate for a Dallas squad that desperately needs a new chapter after that nightmare of a 2024 season. Midway through the game, it surely looked like Dallas came with something to prove. Until…it all turned the other way around.

Before tip-off, if you’d asked anyone to call this game, the safe money was on the Lynx. Finals finalists last season, Commissioner’s Cup champs and a a fire under them to make it back to the big stage and finish what they started. But new-look Dallas wasn’t going to make that easy. By halftime, it was a 46-46 tie. Maddy Siegrist hit a layup with one second left before the buzzer to end the first half in a tie.

Minnesota didn’t look like Minnesota. And Napheesa Collier knew it. “It’s been pretty bad,” she said bluntly when asked about the first half. “They’re getting pretty much everything they want. I am sure we’re gonna talk about it in the halftime. If we want to win, we’ve got to change it in the second half.” About defense, she added “We need to be there for each other. We’re doing stupid fouls. We need to lock in on defense.”

Well, she meant all that she said. 

Because right after the break, it was a different story. Dallas hit a scoring drought, and the Lynx pounced. Collier was everywhere, scoring, defending, leading. She exploded for 18 points just in the third quarter, helping Minnesota outscore Dallas 35-20 in those 10 minutes alone. From a tie game to a comfy 81-66 lead going into the fourth, it was all Lynx from there.

With 20 second-half points, Collier finished with 34 points, and Courtney Williams dropped 25 points and had nine assists of her own. Jessica Shepard also put up15 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Wings got 16 from Arike Ogunbowale and 15 from DiJonai Carrington, but they just couldn’t keep up with the Minnesota. Final score was 99-84. Lynx walk out with the dub.

Bueckers played 30 minutes in the win, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, plus seven rebounds and two assists. It wasn’t her most electric outing, but she held her own, even when she got caught on an island defending Napheesa Collier in the post. And yes…that led to a foul. But we got a sweet moment out of it. Before Collier hit her free throws, the two UConn legends shared a quick laugh at the line.

On the court, Phee wasn’t showing any mercy but off it, she made sure to show some love to her Husky lil’ sis. 

Phee’s message to Paige Bueckers before the big night

Last season, Geno Auriemma watched two of his greatest UConn mentees- Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier – went head-to-head in the WNBA Finals. And now, he’s watching it happen all over again. This time, it’s Napheesa and Paige Bueckers sharing the same court on opening night. Different setting, different stakes, but the same Husky magic in the air.

Now, this game wasn’t hyped up like a Finals rematch or a long-awaited grudge match. But whenever UConn legends lace up against each other, something memorable always unfolds. And this one had a little extra flair to it. Why? Because it was Paige’s WNBA debut. 

But you know, no matter what happens on the hardwood, the UConn bond off the court stays rock solid. Ahead of the big night, Paige got a little surprise text from Phee. The Lynx star made sure to shoot her a good luck message before their showdown. But she had to make it clear…there were limits.

 “Good luck tonight,” she wrote. “Don’t do too much against us, wait ’til your next game.” Phee didn’t stop there though. Speaking to the media on May 16, she opened up about just how much she respects the 22-year-old rookie. “I’m really happy for Paige. I really really like Paige, her family, the way she plays. She’s just a great person and player.” 

When asked what makes Bueckers’ game special, Collier didn’t hesitate: “First of all, her work ethic. And then, I think the way that she’s already a three-way player.” Collier noted that the mid-range game is probably the hardest area to master, and yet Paige is already really strong there. She also pointed out how impressive it is that Bueckers, especially as a point guard, can already score at all three levels. On top of that, she praised Paige’s court vision, calling it particularly remarkable for someone who hasn’t even played professionally until now.

That’s high praise coming from a six-year vet who’s been as consistent as they come in the league. To see someone like Collier – who’s played in Finals, repped Team USA, and carried the Lynx – glow like that about Paige, it says a lot. Sure, Bueckers’ first outing might not have been perfect but she’s officially in. The WNBA isn’t just a dream anymore. It’s her reality. Now it’s up to her to keep the UConn legacy alive in this new chapter.

Welcome to the league, Paige Bueckers!