Ahead of her WNBA debut on Friday against the Minnesota Lynx to kick off the 2025 season, Paige Bueckers took to Instagram to share preview images of her in Dallas Wings attire. Reacting to the post, her teammate, NaLyssa Smith, dropped a two-word comment in the comment section.
"Hey pookieeee 😚😚," Smith commented.
Various other Wings players also dropped their reactions on the post, including Smith's girlfriend, DiJonai Carrington.
"Lookin tanner alreadyyyy🥹🥹🤍🤞🏽" Carrington commented.
Rook," Bueckers captioned the post.
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Nalyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington became teammates at the Dallas Wings after a four-way deal between the Indiana Fever, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury and the Wings in January. They were previously teammates when they played at Baylor University, and have been in a relationship since 2022.
During a mid-game interview during a preseason game, Wings GM Curt Miller even implied that they traded for Smith in hopes of onboarding Carrington:
"We knew if we could get NaLyssa in a trade, that even more [we] could get DiJonai through free agency, too," Miller said.
The Dallas Wings had a busy offseason after they concluded their 2024 campaign with a 9-31 record, their worst since 2011. They have a significantly reformed roster ahead of the 2025 season, with Paige Bueckers' addition expected to spark new life into the team.
Paige Bueckers sends clear message to Wings teammates
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Paige Bueckers shared how she is approaching her rookie campaign as the starting point guard of the Dallas Wings. The first overall pick emphasized the need for teamwork, as she shared her mindset to stay poised and in control of the offense.
"From high school, from college, we've always played in a system where no player is bigger than the team," Bueckers said. "We love sharing the ball. We love getting into the action. Getting that extra pass. Not forcing things ... It's something I've grown accustomed to."
Paige Bueckers is known as a strong facilitator and playmaker, with her playstyle emphasizing efficiency and making the right play. As the Wings' primary point guard, she is expected to make an immediate impact on the team's offense.
Bueckers capped off her collegiate career by leading the UConn Huskies to the NCAA championship last month. She concluded her final collegiate season averaging 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 53.4% from the field, including 41.9% from beyond the arc.
