Paige Bueckers rocks cowboy hat as Dallas Wings roll out the red carpet welcome

Fresh off winning a national championship with UConn, Paige Bueckers has officially kicked off her WNBA journey as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings. On Wednesday, Bueckers was introduced at Dallas City Hall alongside her fellow 2025 draftees, wearing a Stetson cowboy hat and flashing a big smile.
“It’s been insane. It’s been nonstop,” said the 23-year-old star guard. “I’m either doing something or packing... But I’ve tried to stay present as much as I could, enjoy the last couple of days at UConn, soaking in those relationships and those experiences.”
Training camp with the Wings begins Sunday, and Bueckers says she’s ready: “Very excited for the next chapter.”
The welcome event was held in a packed lobby at City Hall, with the mayor, city council, and dozens of city employees cheering from every floor. New Wings general manager Curt Miller described the atmosphere as full of optimism: “It was Christmas nine days ago [at the draft]. Certainly, today feels like New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.”
Miller said there was never a doubt that Bueckers would be the team’s top pick. “Paige comes off a national championship, one of the most decorated and efficient players in college basketball history.”
Joining Bueckers were the Wings’ other draft picks: Aziaha James (12th overall), Madison Scott (14th), JJ Quinerly (27th), and Aaronette Vonleh (31st). Each player received a signature cowboy hat as a gesture of their official Texas welcome.
“Dallas is a great sports city,” Bueckers said. “You can feel the love and support already. There’s a lot of new in this organization... just create a new sisterhood.”
The event came just blocks away from the downtown Dallas arena currently undergoing a $7.7 million renovation to become the Wings’ future home. For now, the team will play at College Park Center at UT-Arlington—its home for the past decade—until the move downtown is complete next season.
A standout moment on the upcoming schedule is a highly anticipated home game on June 27, when the Wings will face Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks arena.
Mayor Eric Johnson reflected on the team’s ongoing transition to Dallas, recalling the city council’s approval last year of a $19 million, 15-year deal to bring the franchise downtown. “We proudly announced that the Dallas Wings would soon be making downtown Dallas their permanent home,” he said. “Since then, the excitement has only grown... today we’re taking the next big step forward.”
Just weeks ago, Bueckers was lifting a national trophy. Now, she's stepping into a new city, a new team, and a new role as the face of the franchise.
The move to Dallas marks a major shift not only for Bueckers but for the Wings, who are embracing a new chapter—cowboy hats and all.