If there’s any recent superstar who truly understands the value of veteran connections, it’s Paige Bueckers. Now a UConn alum, Bueckers endured a great deal in her pursuit of a national championship — from knee injuries to stretches of uncertainty. Through it all, her seniors stood firmly by her side. Many Huskies legends backed her, showcasing remarkable program solidarity.

In particular, Bueckers built strong connections with Sue Bird and Napheesa Collier during her final season at UConn. It was widely seen as a make-or-break year for the six-foot-tall point guard, and the two legends offered whatever guidance they could. With three national titles between them, Bird and Collier helped Bueckers reshape her legacy as a Husky and step into the pros with an unwavering confidence!

However, it seems like she would need their help again, as Sue Bird, irrespective of their bond, was quite straightforward with her words.

On the podcast A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, the former UConn star spelled out some big issues for Bueckers. “Paige was good. She was good. It wasn’t like the greatest performance I’ve ever seen, and she’s definitely gonna see things she needs to work on,” Bird said about her fellow Huskies alum, and her first exposure to the WNBA.

Overall, the performance was quite lackluster. Every analyst on planet Earth figured out that Paige Bueckers could not deal with the level of physicality that is present in the WNBA. The Dallas Wings star was lagging behind on screens, and she couldn’t counteract the strength of her counterparts.

And even though an immediate adjustment doesn’t seem possible, Bird issued a warning of sorts to Bueckers. “We talked about this last week, she already talked about the screens. So the size, the strength, and the pace is all things that she’s going to have to adjust to, we already knew that.” The Seattle Storm legend said, and we’re sure Bueckers was listening.

After all, she once put it simply: “I mostly talk to a lot of the UConn alums, and just being a part of that network.” And honestly, you could argue they’re her greatest secret weapon as she navigates the pros. These are players who’ve seen it all, done it all, and survived Geno Auriemma’s practices. They come from the same basketball DNA, speak the same competitive language, and most importantly, she doesn’t have to waste time building trust — it’s already there.

It will be interesting to see how Paige Bueckers bounces back from her first preseason game, especially with rumors plaguing her short pro tenure so far. What exactly does the grapevine have to say about the Wings star?

Paige Bueckers ridicules narratives against Dallas

It was one of the biggest questions during this off-season—does Paige Bueckers want to go to Dallas? Somehow, somewhere down the line, no one took the thought of Bueckers becoming a guard for the Wings seriously. Everyone thought she would be headed towards a bigger market. Or fans thought that she might use up her last year of NCAA eligibility and run it back with coach Geno.

However, she stunned people by confidently deciding to step into the Dallas Wings organization. Even with all the power she had over her draft, Bueckers still decided to take her shot with the Wings and be their new cornerstone.

And now, on 105.3 The Fan, she addressed the narratives that people had made before the WNBA draft. “Everybody had their own narratives and stuff they thought to be true–but I don’t think anybody actually heard it from my mouth,” Bueckers said. “But I was excited for Dallas. It’s just an opportunity to do something new.” 

The Huskies star made it clear that her focus was never on obsessing over which team would draft her. But if Dallas came calling, there was never a doubt in her mind. What sealed the deal? The Wings offered something rare in professional sports: a true sense of individuality and freedom, the kind of environment where she could be herself, both on and off the court — something not every franchise can promise.

Regardless of the court of public opinion, it will be interesting to see whether Paige is a good fit for Dallas after all. Their first pre-season game together did not inspire much hope, however, Bueckers is just getting started right now!