Paige Bueckers is quickly making her case to be recognized as a WNBA legend. Not only did the 24-year-old win the Rookie of the Year last year, but she has also kept her merry form in the Unrivaled, too. Winning the free-throw challenge, the UConn Huskies star pocketed a whopping $50,000.
Now, upping the ante further, Bueckers teamed up with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Playing against Senegal, the star player failed to deliver a strong performance. But she made up for it immediately as Team USA faced Puerto Rico.
Paige Bueckers Entertains A Packed Crowd With Her Sublime Show
The Minnesota-born is making a statement. While many doubted her Dallas Wings performance as beginner’s luck, the 2025 WNBA All-Star had other options. Eager to stand out amidst a star-studded lineup, Bueckers dropped 16 points with four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
And that’s not all. She also had a 7/12 field goal stat, which helped the team register a 91-48 victory in San Juan. Surely, such a performance will boost her morale significantly ahead of the upcoming WNBA season.
Stacking wins & stacking days.@paigebueckers1 recaps a team-high 16 pts vs 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) March 13, 2026
🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/kPzwjGM6rZ
Moreover, as Kara Lawson tried out different rotations in the game, it also goes on to show how Bueckers can adapt to the changes like a pro. Especially, in a game where Clark had an unexpected off day.
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Ahead of the tournament, Lawson pointed out that since Team USA has already qualified, she will be experimenting with her lineups in the qualifiers.
With different rotations coming into play against Puerto Rico, the head coach said, “Don’t read a lot into it. We’ve talked about this with our players: The starting lineup is going to change, the rotations are going to change. As a coach, I’m in fact-finding mode … trying to find some chemistry and what combinations fit best together.”
Meanwhile, as the fans are heavily hyped about the 24-year-old’s form, the Wings’ star, too, is excited to share the locker room with the greats.
Paige Bueckers Thrilled To See Chelsea Gray Turn Friends From Foes
During the Unrivaled, Bueckers and Gray had a heated moment at the 1v1 tournament. However, all of that has changed in the Team USA locker room. The 2025 NCAA champion previously stated how honored she was to wear the national colors. Now, to see an icon like Gray share the locker room with her, the 2021 Naismith College Player of the Year is thrilled.
“I’ve grown up watching Chelsea Gray and been playing against her the past year. I’m really glad to be on her team and in the same uniform this time… Just how competitive we are. Even today, we don’t have practice guys here, so we’re going against each other. The fire, the intensity, and the passion that we have for the game — you can see it,” said Bueckers.
Surely, it is evident that the Dallas star is having a merry time. Now, with a new team and coach promising a fresh start, all eyes would be on how well the 24-year-old star guides her team to glory.