Paige Bueckers makes Kyrie Irving want forward of WNBA rookie season

Since arriving in Dallas because the Wings’ No. 1 total choose of the 2025 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers has been vocal about her admiration for Kyrie Irving. After showering the Dallas Mavericks star with lofty compliments throughout her rookie introductory press convention just a few weeks in the past, Bueckers has now taken it a step additional with a request.

Throughout a press convention, the Wings guard revealed her need to see Irving within the stands at considered one of her video games in the course of the upcoming 2025 marketing campaign.

“I wish to see Kyrie at a sport for positive,” Paige Bueckers stated.

Kyrie Irving has been one of many largest advocates for girls’s basketball, having prolonged his help to the WNBA beforehand. His contributions prolong properly past being courtside whereas attending video games.

Irving donated $1.5 million, by KAI Empowerment, to assist cowl salaries of these gamers who selected to not take part within the WNBA Bubble on account of varied causes.

“Whether or not an individual determined to combat for social justice, play basketball, give attention to bodily or psychological well being, or just join with their households, this initiative can hopefully help their priorities and choices,” Irving’s statements learn.

There might be many possibilities for Paige Bueckers and Kyrie Irving to attach as a result of each might be representing Dallas for the foreseeable future. On condition that Irving has cast shut ties with WNBA gamers like Sue Chicken prior to now, he may create the same bond with Bueckers.

Paige Bueckers empathizes with Kyrie Irving

In the course of the Mavericks’ March 3 matchup in opposition to the Sacramento Kings, Kyrie Irving had a knee harm. MRI confirmed a torn left knee ACL, sidelining the celebrity indefinitely.

Paige Bueckers, who had the same harm throughout her collegiate profession, expressed sympathy for Irving but additionally disclosed that he has been her favourite participant.

“He is been my favourite participant for perpetually now. Tremendous excited to be in the identical metropolis as him. Hope I can be taught lots from him. I do know he’s going by an ACL journey himself, so to have the ability to lean on and help one another by that, I feel it is one thing that may be motivating,” Bueckers stated.

Bueckers tore her left ACL throughout a pickup sport at UConn’s coaching facility early within the 2022-23 faculty basketball season, sidelining her for the whole thing of the marketing campaign.

Nonetheless, she bounced again strongly, placing up a career-best 21.9 factors and 5.2 rebounds per sport within the subsequent season. Though her numbers dipped barely within the 2024–225 season – 19.9 factors and 4.6 assists per sport – she capped off the yr with a nationwide championship.