“This is just the beginning,” Bueckers told reporters with a smile. “You don’t ever want to assume anything in life. This is a fresh start, and we’re ready to build something special in Dallas.”

Bueckers, 22, enters the league with a decorated college career but also a story of resilience. She won the Naismith Trophy as a freshman, immediately turning heads with her court vision and poise. But the journey wasn’t smooth. A knee injury sidelined her for 19 games during her sophomore year, and a torn ACL forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 season. Still, she returned stronger than ever and capped off her final season by guiding her team to glory.

“Through every high and low, my teammates at UConn stood by me,” she said. “They’ve seen me at my best and my worst, and their love is what kept me going.”