Paige Bueckers Hailed as Napheesa-Like by Cheryl Reeve as Minnesota Native Calls Lynx “Everything You Want”

Entering the Target Center, Paige Bueckers made her intentions clear about her opponent. “Obviously, Napheesa is an MVP candidate, so we have to show attention to her,” she said. The battle of the forerunners of MVP and ROTY candidates was bound to be interesting. Unfortunately, it turned into a battle of David and Goliath. The ginormous Minnesota steamrolled the Dallas Wings as Bueckers, their lone hope, fought on. But in that gloom, Cheryl Reeve was reminded of a bright spot for the young guard.

Monday night’s game ended in a one-sided win for Minnesota, 96-71. The Dallas Wings earned their eighth consecutive loss, failing to reach double digits in the wins column yet again. So it was a rather bleak homecoming for Bueckers, who was back home after almost three months. But only until the Lynx coach did not let it be so. Despite earning her 32nd loss in her rookie season, Bueckers earned a rare comparison to the MVP candidate.

Speaking of guarding Paige Bueckers, the opposing team’s head coach said after the game,” I told Carleton before the game that was going to be her matchup, that she’s very much improved from the first time we saw her in terms of how she gets her scoring attempts. She learned how much her team needs her to take shots.”

When Paige made her professional debut against a team she had grown up loving, her scorecard read a discouraging 3 of 10 from the field. It was an emotional moment for those who had watched her grow, but Bueckers could utter one word: “hard.” And the next game of the series in Minnesota was no different. The UConn alumna went 3 of 11 this time. But her return last night couldn’t have told the story of the last three months better.

In learning to weave past the defenders and carrying the weight of the team rolling downhill, Paige Bueckers was the highest scorer on the Wings’ side. She dropped 17 points on 50 percent shooting, and that reminded Coach Reeve of one — the best player on the best team this season, Napheesa Collier.

“It’s almost like Phee in 23. We were like you would have to take 20 shots, and you gotta figure out how to get them off. And I think Paige has gotten really shifty in getting defenders up and getting to her sweet spot. So it’s not just one move; she’s figured out the league pretty quickly.”

In 2023, when Sylvia Fowles had just retired, leaving Collier to take on the weight of a youthful team, she had stepped up. The biggest goal for the Lynx that year was development. But riding on the forward’s back, who averaged 21.1 points coming off pregnancy, the team made it all the way to the playoffs. Now, Paige may not have been successful in maintaining a similar stride for her team, but her presence has been instrumental in every single game.

In three months, she has become the fastest player to drop 500 points and 100 assists, put up a 44-point piece, and is averaging 5th-best points per game — 18.9. “[she] continue to make us a better team on and off the floor,” Chris Koclanes says. So Reeve, rightfully, sees her star player there. But that’s as much comparison Phee is giving a nod to.

Back in 2024, the Lynx forward shot down any comparisons to Bueckers, stating, “I’ve never looked it up before because she’s a point guard and I never thought to compare us both.”

Both players have been the crown jewels of UConn, carving out exceptional collegiate careers before moving on to the professional stage. Their connection runs deeper than Huskies’ pride. They also teamed up for Team USA at the World Beach Games in Doha in 2019. More recently, in April, Bueckers signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled, the players-first league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. If fate allows, we might soon see Bueckers competing against Collier outside the WNBA, too.

However, Collier had nothing but praise for her, claiming, “I don’t think if there’s anyone I would compare Paige to because she’s a new player. Like, we have new players coming to the league that we’ve never seen before, and I think Paige is one of them.” This was a sign of mutual respect, from one legend to another, in making. Honoring this, Paige herself couldn’t stop herself from praising her opponents.

Following the end of the Minnesota game, Bueckers said, “I just really enjoy competing against this Minnesota Lynx team. They’re just everything you want to be as a team.” While the WNBA star could have meant this as a sign of respect, some netizens took it as a way of her informing everyone where she wants to be next season. Many fans are swarming the internet for her switch back to her hometown. But as for Bueckers, she’s enjoying her time back at home.

Paige Bueckers is enjoying time in Minnesota amidst injury woes

After spending almost three months away from home (Wings last played Minnesota in May), Bueckers is taking it all in. While she was away for a long time, Bueckers is not complaining. “It’s fun. Having that home trip early in the season, as you’re just getting comfortable in the league, to have a trip back home where you feel comfortable is great,” said the Wings guard. And she’s making the most of her time there.

The Wings rookie took her teammates alongside her for a tradition she follows in her hometown: visiting the Minnesota State Fair. “Then at the end, to be able to have that full circle moment, and for it to line up perfectly with the state fair, was awesome,” she said. Calling herself a “corn dog enthusiast,” Bueckers also tried the red velvet Oreos for the first time this year.

This break comes at a crucial time for her and her team. The Wings are playing with the bare minimum roster of eight players. Almost half the team is wiped out with injury. The rookie herself is facing some left calf injury concerns. She was reportedly questionable for the game before eventually suiting up against the Lynx. Paige Bueckers claims she is being careful and cautious with her injury. The last thing her team wants to see is their ace sitting on the bench injured.