Paige Bueckers reveals first thoughts on Dallas Wings' new coach

Paige Bueckers is ready to learn from her new coach.

Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) speaks to the media before the game against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Wings have announced the hiring of Jose Fernandez as the next head coach in franchise history. No coach of the Wings has lasted longer than two years at the helm since 2018, and with a superstar like Paige Bueckers on the roster, it's important to get this hire right.

Bueckers recently spoke about the hire with USA Today, where she seems excited to work with a close friend of her college coach, Geno Auriemma.

"I've connected with [Fernandez] a few times, just getting to learn more about who he is, what he's about. He's been extremely successful in his entire college career. I played against him a few times," said Bueckers. "I like the way he thinks basketball and the way he has really lived it his whole entire life. And that's how I am. I live, breathe basketball, so continue to work with him, get to know him more, him getting to know me and the team more. I'm really excited for the future."

Nov 10, 2024; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; South Florida Bulls head coach Jose Fernandez watches from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Bueckers faced off against Fernandez twice while she was at UConn and he was at USF. UConn won both games, and Bueckers scored over 20 points in each matchup, including a 9/10 shooting performance for 22 points in her senior year.

Fernandez gained a lot of respect during his 25 years as a coach at South Florida, as he's responsible for every NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. He's also been friends with Geno Auriemma dating back to the beginning of their coaching careers. They faced off many teams, since they were in the same confernce a few times, and Fernandez was always able to get the most out of his talent, and he did a great job recruiting internationally, which could help him with this job.

READ MORE: Paige Bueckers makes headlines with visit to college rival

Geno Auriemma Confident Jose Fernandez Will Succeed

Auriemma has released a few statements on why he thinks Fernandez will succeed. Most recently, he talked at Big East media day.

"I've always thought he's one of the best coaches in all of college basketball," Auriemma said after discussing how they became friends. "Getting ready to play [USF] was different than most any other team that you play, simply because of their, first, their international presence, second, he's able to coach them a little bit differently because of their experience playing over there. So that's why I think he'll be great in Dallas because he'll bring some international players over, and he's very sophisticated in the stuff that he does, which fits in well with what's happening, what's gonna happen in that league.

READ MORE: Paige Bueckers' Unrivaled team could be the one to watch

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