Dallas Wings On SI

WNBA star Paige Bueckers breaks silence on Wings-Lynx trade

Bueckers didn't hold back when discussing her former teammates' new homes

Zain Bando

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

Dallas Wings rookie guard Paige Bueckers kept a cheerful attitude upon learning the news that two of her former teammates, DiJoNai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith, would no longer be playing together.

Although Bueckers' team is limping toward the end of the season while looking to halt a losing skid with games over the next several days, she has a mutual respect for both of them.

Paige Bueckers Keeps It Classy

Bueckers reacts to controversial trade
Aug 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) warms up prior to the game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

"I love those guys," Bueckers said. “They kind of adopted me as parents. I was their child. Just what they meant to me and welcoming me my rookie year. Just embracing me. Embracing my personality. Embracing my annoyingness. They became like big sisters to me. So I looked up to them for advice. I miss them. I understand there's a business to it, but we'll always – our relationship will always stay the same."

Carrington was all class toward Bueckers as the news fell out.

"our babygirl forever fr fr," Carrington tweeted in response to Bueckers' comments.

READ MORE: Fever's Sophie Cunningham sounds off on WNBA star, Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers

Both teams are going in opposite directions, as Carrington's Minnesota Lynx sit at 25-5 on a three-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Bueckers' team sits at 8-22 while Smith's Las Vegas Aces have won back-to-back games and sit just above .500 in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference at No. 7.

Bueckers will have a chance to rematch the Minnesota Lynx Sept. 1 in Minneapolis, marking the first time she and her former teammate, Carrington, will go head-to-head in a likely emotional reunion at Target Center in Minneapolis

Meanwhile, Smith hasn't had a very productive season, but she may be in a better environment in Las Vegas; that remains to be seen.

As for Bueckers, she is likely on her way to securing the WNBA Rookie of the Year award as the face of the Dallas Wings franchise.

Bueckers said last month she feels like her overall game, specifically her communication, has greatly improved.

“I think the way that I try to make everyone around me better, and be a voice, I think I’ve grown more confident in being a leader, talking, and communicating, calling huddles,” Bueckers said.

Bueckers added, ultimately, the Wings want to win even if struggles pile up.

“I’m just always having something to say, something to always coach on the floor," Bueckers continued. "And so just really, I think, using my voice, and my teammates have done a great job of being receptive to it. Even though I’m a rookie, we all just wanna win, so all of our voices matter.”

Dallas' rematch with the New York Liberty gets underway Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

READ MORE: Wings' Paige Bueckers goes viral for taunt against former WNBA MVP

Stick with WingsGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Wings throughout the 2025 Season.

More Dallas Wings News

Published |Modified
Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer & columnist for Gameday Media's MMA Knockout, expanding his portfolio as a Staff Writer for Dallas Wings On SI with previous in-network contributions around the echosystem. Outside of covering fights, Bando's background includes Big Ten football and men's basketball with leans toward Illinois and Northwestern with a broader league view for bylines including The Sporting News, FanSided, Men's Journal and others since 2019. Bando can be reached at zainbando99@gmail.com or via his social media accounts @zainbando99.

Home/Paige Bueckers