Paige Bueckers is having quite the week.
The Dallas Wings star helped Team USA open the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup with a dominant 94-61 victory over China on Sept. 4. Bueckers made her World Cup debut alongside Caitlin Clark and helped the United States immediately establish itself as the tournament favorite.
Then came another big win.
The United States escaped Italy 55-52 on Sept. 7 in its toughest World Cup test yet.
Bueckers has already become one of the biggest young stars in women’s basketball. Her combination of talent, personality and massive fan following has made her one of the sport’s most recognizable players.
And yes, she has also become something of a social media phenomenon.
That is part of what makes Bueckers so valuable to the sport.
She can dominate on the court and dominate the conversation away from it.
The WNBA already knows what it has in Bueckers.
Now the rest of the basketball world is getting another look.
