2025 has been an exhausting one for Paige Bueckers—from a deep NCAA tournament run to jumping straight into her WNBA rookie season with barely any breaks. The only real downtime she’s had was during injury recovery. So after constantly dealing with patellar tendinitis, which has obliged her to “have an off day or a light practice day,” during back-to-back schedules, it was understandable why she chose to sit out after the All-Star Game. However, while she missed yet another chance to help the struggling Wings, Bueckers didn’t miss out on a personal milestone!

So, while she wasn’t on the court battling against A’ja Wilson and company, the former UConn standout did get to enjoy a brief but iconic moment: meeting sprinting legend Usain Bolt. No, she didn’t sit courtside with him the entire game, but she did get to connect, get an autograph, have a conversation, and even snap a picture—where the 6’5″ Bolt towered over the 6’0″ Bueckers. If that wasn’t enough, the 8x Olympic gold medalist showed up for the game against the Liberty, too.

Here’s what the fan in Paige Bueckers had to say about the encounter: “Yeah, he’s the GOAT, fastest man to ever live. So to be in his presence, I was just trying to soak some up, get some speed from him. But really, just an honor to meet him and very grateful he’s supporting the WNBA, women’s basketball, attending our games. So that was an awesome opportunity,” she shared during the press conference after playing against the Liberty.

And she’s got a point. Bolt, who holds the record as the fastest man alive, making an appearance twice in a row, is a big enough deal when the league is looking at expansion.

Yes, a longtime NBA fan, Bolt has been seen wearing Golden State Warriors gear and cheering on their highs and lows. But his appearance at a WNBA game? That’s something new. So when PB said she was “very grateful he’s supporting WNBA women’s basketball and attending our games,” she meant it. And the team did not disappoint.

Just consider this: ESPN’s matchup predictor only gave Dallas a 39% chance of winning the game. But Bueckers took full advantage of New York’s incomplete roster as Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally were all out, and capitalized. The young guard delivered a game-high 20 points, matching 2024 All-Star Game MVP Arike Ogunbowale, who also added 14 assists. That performance was enough to help Dallas, one of the WNBA’s lowest-ranked teams, hand the No. 2-ranked Liberty a shocking 92–82 loss.

All thanks to the Wings’ trio of Arike, PB, and Luisa, who all combined for 38 points in the first half—two more than the entire Liberty roster at that point. And by halftime, the Wings led 63–36 and had recorded franchise highs in field goals made (26) and assists (20) for a single half.

So yes, PB was flying out there. Coincidence? Maybe not. Especially when you remember she was playing in front of her girlfriend Azzi Fudd, who rocked a custom “I ❤️ PB” outfit in the stands. Everything seemed to align. But Bueckers wasn’t the only one who got a special moment with the Jamaican sprint legend!

When the W interacts with track and field…

Alongside PB, three-time MVP A’ja Wilson also got her Bolt moment. As soon as she saw him, she walked right over and shared a heartfelt hug. It was GOAT meets GOAT. “‘You the GOAT. It’s so nice to meet you.’ – A’ja Wilson to Usain Bolt,” read a tweet that captured the viral moment in video form.

And within a moment, the video attracted millions of views, and why not?  While Bueckers was sidelined during that game, Wilson made the most of the occasion, delivering an all-around performance with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in 33 minutes.

So, who’s Bolt’s favorite? Well, it’s hard to say, but Bueckers did give him a signed jersey, which might just tip the scales. The real winner, however, was the league, adding yet another name to its celebrity row, right alongside Russell Willson, Ciara, Allyson Felix, Spike Lee, Pharrell, and numerous more.