SOUTH BEND, IN – All basketball eyes Friday were on WNBA rookie Paige Bueckers.
Except those on former Notre Dame All-American guard Arike Ogunbowale. Or former Irish guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. The three veterans received warm welcome back receptions during the first WNBA game played at Purcell Pavilion, an exhibition Friday between the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings.
Bueckers, the top pick by Dallas in last month’s WNBA draft, wasn’t far behind. She was cheered when she was the second Wings starter announced. She was cheered after her first bucket with 6:12 left in the first quarter.
She was usually jeered during two previous trips to Notre Dame, which both ended in UConn losses.
“It wasn’t UConn playing Notre Dame so it was a littel bit different energy from the crowd,” Bueckers said.
Twenty-six days after leading Connecticut to its 12th national championship, the Dallas rookie looked Friday like a rookie. In 22:37 on the court, Bueckers had 10 points, four rebounds and one assist. She made four of seven shots from the floor and two of three from 3. She did not attempt a free throw and finished with a plus/minus of (-23).
Bueckers left the game for good with 5:31 remaining and Dallas down 94-75.
“It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks to where I am today,” Bueckers said. “I’m just excited to play basketball again.”
Las Vegas won 112-78.
Bueckers matched up much of the night against Young, one of the game’s elite guards. Young, also a No. 1 pick, admitted earlier in the day that it took years to adjust to the speed and style of the WNBA game. It’s nothing like college, something all rookies learn.
The pace, the flow, the talent level on the other team and the physicality all were adjustments for Bueckers.
“She’s just very poised and composed all the time,” said Dallas coach Chris Koclanes, also making his WNBA debut on Friday. “Just another game for her.”
Koclanes’ pre-game message to Bueckers was simple — go and play in the present, don’t worry about being perfect. Nobody is.
It looked like a game where Bueckers was still trying to figure it all out. Not trying to do too much, she often did too little. The Wings fell into an early eight-point deficit with Bueckers on the floor, then took the lead with her on the bench.
Not long after she returned, the Aces built a double-digit lead. Dallas trailed by 19 at halftime and by as many as 34. Bueckers settled down a bit in the second half, where she banged in a pair of wing 3-pointers.
It’s a long year for someone who’s already had a long basketball run. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses. Bueckers will be better for all of it down the line.
“This is just the start,” she said. “You want to build off that.”
The construction continues.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com