Paige Bueckers’ Horrendous ‘Welcome to WNBA’ Moment Goes Viral

Fans are looking forward to Paige Bueckers' rookie season as the Dallas Wings build chemistry after restructuring their roster in the offseason.

Paige Bueckers’ Horrendous ‘Welcome to WNBA’ Moment Goes Viral

Paige Bueckers in disbelief over foul call (Image via FirstSportz)

The moment arrived for Paige Bueckers‘ first game in the WNBA. Last year, she postponed her professional career for one more shot at the national championship. Now, as part of the Dallas Wings, the superstar is set to make her mark in the pros.

The Wings knew what they were getting in Bueckers. Her exceptional scoring efficiency along with her defense and playmaking make her a talented package. Many consider her to be quite advanced in terms of being a pro after displaying a lot of maturity and awareness to win the 2025 NCAA national championship.

Earlier in the year, there were doubts she would want to sign with the Wings, considering she was hoping to go to the Los Angeles Sparks. A bigger market would bring a lot of advantages. But that did not happen, and she accepted her future.

The 23-year-old has the potential to change the stature of the Dallas Wings, and many considered her to be the hottest basketball player in the city after Luka Doncic was traded away. Now making her debut, fans are also aware that there will be an adjustment period, just as every rookie has to make.

Bueckers started well and kept her Wings within touching distance of the Minnesota Lynx. She also tried to use her defense to slow the Lynx down. On one possession, she got her hand up to obstruct Napheesa Collier‘s shot.

The reigning DPOY’s shot fell through the basket, but she also drew a whistle. Bueckers was shocked by the foul call and clutched her face in disbelief. It was her welcome to the WNBA moment where she realised that officiating in this league can be questionable at times. The replay showed she did not even touch Collier once on that play.

Paige Bueckers had a decent outing in her debut WNBA game

Paige Bueckers is coming off a stellar run to win the national championship. That means she has started her professional career a little more than a month after her final game in college. The lack of rest is something that all rookies have to deal with, but in Bueckers’ case, she has played more than the rest of her fellow draftees.

On top of that, all rookies have to adjust to the physicality while playing against grown women. The suggestion took the world by storm last season, but it is a reality that impacts every 22-23 year old rookie playing against 30 year olds.

On top of that, the Dallas Wings are a completely restructured team playing under a new coach. Going up against last season’s runner-up was not going to be an easy task for anyone. But Bueckers managed to finish her debut with a 10-point, 7 rebound outing.

Not the best that could come from her. But she and her team are still learning how to adjust to each other. As they continue to spend time on the court, they will be able to understand how to get into better positions.

Paige Bueckers and Wings have a tough schedule ahead

The success of the Dallas Wings this season depends on how fast the reconstructed team builds chemistry. The team hopes Paige Bueckers learns and adjusts fast. But the veterans need to step up as well.

Paige Bueckers needs to adjust to her new teammates as fast as possible
Paige Bueckers needs to adjust to her new teammates as fast as possible (Image via Kevin Jairaj/X)

That is because they will face a tough schedule all throughout this season. None of the teams they will face will want to let go of a win. Moreover, many teams are battling for a title, which places the Wings as a source to win games against.

Their lack of chemistry and a rookie head coach might make it difficult to win games against established teams. Moreover, whenever they get an easier opponent, that game is flanked by battles against title contenders.

That will make it difficult to build winning momentum. However, all the players starting for the Dallas Wings have excelled in the past. If they manage to figure out how to be effective, they could turn the tide and go on a winning run. That will define how good or bad of a rookie season Paige Bueckers has.

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