Former UConn Huskies player and the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers, surely felt that the pressure was on when she returned to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday, May 27. The Hooplandia Street Team was in attendance for work purposes, but they were grateful to witness her triumphant homecoming!
Shortly after she hung up her Huskies jersey and graduated from the University of Connecticut, Bueckers was scooped up by the Dallas Wings. It seems her career has been on an upward trend her entire life—she gained even more notoriety when she became the first female high school player to be featured on the cover of SLAM basketball magazine in 2020. During her collegiate career, she and the Huskies dominated 15-0 in the Mohegan Sun Arena, including their sweeping win of four Big East championships.
You can bet that she arrived in Uncasville, Conn., prepared to maintain her spotless record last night.
The game remained neck and neck through the first quarter until the Dallas Wings gained a lead. From that point forward, the gap between the Suns and victory widened gradually. The Wings eventually defeated the Connecticut Suns 109-87, with specific thanks to Arike Ogunbowale, as well as former Suns players DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris, too.
During all the excitement, Sam Roberts, Hooplandia event coordinator, and Anthony Ardolino, Pope Francis Preparatory School student and the newest addition to the street team, held down fort at an informational table. They provided a spin-to-win prize wheel, lots of branded swag, rack cards that break down the ins and outs of volunteering at the tournament and more.
“We were thrilled that so many girls and women attended, because we want everyone to know that they have a place at Hooplandia,” Roberts said. “We are so thrilled by the resurgence in women’s basketball, and we hope that those longing for their own place in the spotlight or the chance to try their hand at the sport will join us June 20-22.”
Dreaming of your own WNBA moment? Remember that the clock’s running out on registration, so be sure to get your team name on the roster by June 9 through Hooplandia.com!