Dallas Wins the Paige Bueckers Sweepstakes

[UConnCat]

Are we sure that Los Angeles is her Dream Spot? Has there been anyone who has actually heard that come out of her mouth, or is this just speculation on our part? Or, what we all think as 'if given the choice between ....'?

I personally would think (and I have not heard her say this), that her 'Dream Spot' would be with the franchise in her hometown, Minneapolis, MN. Her parents are both gone from there, Dorka will likely be in San Francisco next year as well, and yet I still believe that of the dozen teams, if she were ranking them, #1 would be the Lynx.

No one is (or should be) talking about her dream spot. The question is which of the lottery teams she preferred. Michael Voepel reported that Bueckers preferred LA and we should trust his reporting.

 

[Stagnant]

One thing I will add to this conversation. Is my personal preference. I don't want Paige another year at Storrs.

I am very much a person that complains when I see Cam Rising at Utah. A 25 year old quarterback. I am not going to be a hypocrite here. Paige missed a lot of time. And one of her complete seasons was the covid year. So, she did miss out on some of the college basketball experience. So, I was happy when she returned this year. (But make no mistake. She was ready to be in the pros with Caitlin.) I can't defend her if she comes back next year. It's time for her. And it is time for UConn. UConn was a great program that won things before Paige. And I want us to challenge and compete to win things after Paige. I am excited about the Sarah Strong era.

So, even if people are mostly joking about Paige coming back for a year... I want to be on the record dismissing that idea as quickly as I can.

 

[HuskyNan]

One thing I will add to this conversation. Is my personal preference. I don't want Paige another year at Storrs.

I am very much a person that complains when I see Cam Rising at Utah. A 25 year old quarterback. I am not going to be a hypocrite here. Paige missed a lot of time. And one of her complete seasons was the covid year. So, she did miss out on some of the college basketball experience. So, I was happy when she returned this year. (But make no mistake. She was ready to be in the pros with Caitlin.) I can't defend her if she comes back next year. It's time for her. And it is time for UConn. UConn was a great program that won things before Paige. And I want us to challenge and compete to win things after Paige. I am excited about the Sarah Strong era.

So, even if people are mostly joking about Paige coming back for a year... I want to be on the record dismissing that idea as quickly as I can.

Rising redshirted two years, one ”player development“ year at Texas and sitting out another year as a transfer to Utah. Hardly comparable to a woman that’s suffered two injuries

 

[Stagnant]

Yep. That’s why I like Paige being here this year. But I don’t want to see her playing 18 year old Providence players in 2026.

 

[oldhusky]

One thing I will add to this conversation. Is my personal preference. I don't want Paige another year at Storrs.

I am very much a person that complains when I see Cam Rising at Utah. A 25 year old quarterback. I am not going to be a hypocrite here. Paige missed a lot of time. And one of her complete seasons was the covid year. So, she did miss out on some of the college basketball experience. So, I was happy when she returned this year. (But make no mistake. She was ready to be in the pros with Caitlin.) I can't defend her if she comes back next year. It's time for her. And it is time for UConn. UConn was a great program that won things before Paige. And I want us to challenge and compete to win things after Paige. I am excited about the Sarah Strong era.

So, even if people are mostly joking about Paige coming back for a year... I want to be on the record dismissing that idea as quickly as I can.

i think that kind of a complaint is more against the system or the rules than the players exercising their rights under the rules. I personally didn't agree with the Covid year rules. I understand that good teams were denied a chance in the tournament, but many lives were changed in many ways because of Covid, and most of those people didn't get some kind of a do over. In addition 80% or so of the Division 1 teams were not going to be in the tournament anyway.

Further that extra year complicated many other things. With 4+ years of potential players and a fixed roster limit, it was hard for coaches to predict how many spots they would have, and for potential recruits to know if a star might return and be ahead of them on the depth chart.
With the portal getting crazier each year it was a planning nightmare. So with the benefit of hindsight I think that was a bad decision to grant everyone an extra year.

Having said that, once the rules are in place, I don't blame anyone for taking advantage of it if it is good for their situation, just because I disagree with the rule. Many did, and of course quite a few athletes got a head start on a masters degree by doing so.

On the red shirt issue I agree with the current rules and think granting an extra year of eligibility when you miss the vast majority of the season, and the most important part due to injury makes sense to me. Regardless those are the rules players were subject to, whether they make sense or not, and the players like Paige can make whatever decision they want that is best for them under those rules.

 

[Dugway]

No one is (or should be) talking about her dream spot. The question is which of the lottery teams she preferred. Michael Voepel reported that Bueckers preferred LA and we should trust his reporting.

Why should we trust his reporting? Cuz, honestly, I don’t trust his reporting. I doubt many reports that are based solely upon unnamed sources.

“Sources around the league have indicated that the Los Angeles Sparks, who got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, would have been Bueckers' preferred option”. Really? Who are these sources around the league? Do they even know Paige Bueckers? What kind of credibility do they have? Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend?

I think that she is too smart to let out that she has a preference, if she did have one.

 

[Skeets]

Fun fact. Pro athletes pay taxes to the state the game is played in.

Probably doesn't complicate the Fed tax form too much, although if you play in 12 different states does that mean 12 different 1099's? I can't comprehend the pain of filling 12 different state tax forms.

 

[UConnCat]

Why should we trust his reporting? Cuz, honestly, I don’t trust his reporting. I doubt many reports that are based solely upon unnamed sources.

“Sources around the league have indicated that the Los Angeles Sparks, who got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, would have been Bueckers' preferred option”. Really? Who are these sources around the league? Do they even know Paige Bueckers? What kind of credibility do they have? Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend?

I think that she is too smart to let out that she has a preference, if she did have one.

I think you are wrong.

 

[boontonbomber]

I think Arike just needs a Coach that is zero-tolerance. Arike & Paige can be an even better version of Caitlin & Kelsey Mitchell (with a better supporting cast, dare I say it).

Agree, Arike needs a strong minded coach , one that also can coach. She is one of the most talented players around. With Paige,Sabally, Howard, and Siegrist, not a bad looking 5. Again, all would depend on the coach they bring in, and Curt Miller is a pretty savvy guy.

 

[oldude]

Agree, Arike needs a strong minded coach , one that also can coach. She is one of the most talented players around. With Paige,Sabally, Howard, and Siegrist, not a bad looking 5. Again, all would depend on the coach they bring in, and Curt Miller is a pretty savvy guy.

And they would need to resign free agents Sabally & Howard.

 

[HuskyNan]

Probably doesn't complicate the Fed tax form too much, although if you play in 12 different states does that mean 12 different 1099's? I can't comprehend the pain of filling 12 different state tax forms.

That's exactly what it means, unfortunately. I worked for a company that was essentially a contractor, going into a state, doing the job then leaving after a period of time. We had to collect appropriate state tax, unemployment tax, whatever-local tax and issue multiple W-2's to our employees at year's end. If you earn money in another state, you (probably) have to file a tax return in that state. (Not all states have state income taxes)

 

[Dugway]

I think you are wrong.

Okay, I understand that you don't think Paige is smart enough to not state such a thing. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and I respect yours.

I don't think it will take long for us to know, she will be answering questions soon, possibly even a pregame today, or a post-game tomorrow amongst all of the 'Congratulations Geno' statements and questions. If not within these timeframes, eventually some reporter is going to ask, "Paige, the Dallas Wings won the Draft Lottery, ....." It is coming, however that question is going to be phrased, it is coming.

We will have to wait and see her answer, but I would be very surprised if Paige's will not be along the lines of, "It has been my lifelong dream to play in the WNBA. Technically I could return to UConn, but my plans are to enter into the draft next year. Although the draft order has now been determined, nobody knows which players will be drafted and by whom. For me personally, I will be honored to play for whichever team in the WNBA drafts me, and I will look forward to joining them."

 

[Dugway]

That's exactly what it means, unfortunately. I worked for a company that was essentially a contractor, going into a state, doing the job then leaving after a period of time. We had to collect appropriate state tax, unemployment tax, whatever-local tax and issue multiple W-2's to our employees at year's end. If you earn money in another state, you (probably) have to file a tax return in that state. (Not all states have state income taxes)

Some professional sports have franchises in Canada as well. Travel up to Toronto for a game, and now you can add that to the complexity of a tax return as well!

 

[oldude]

Okay, I understand that you don't think Paige is smart enough to not state such a thing. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and I respect yours.

I don't think it will take long for us to know, she will be answering questions soon, possibly even a pregame today, or a post-game tomorrow amongst all of the 'Congratulations Geno' statements and questions. If not within these timeframes, eventually some reporter is going to ask, "Paige, the Dallas Wings won the Draft Lottery, ....." It is coming, however that question is going to be phrased, it is coming.

We will have to wait and see her answer, but I would be very surprised if Paige's will not be along the lines of, "It has been my lifelong dream to play in the WNBA. Technically I could return to UConn, but my plans are to enter into the draft next year. Although the draft order has now been determined, nobody knows which players will be drafted and by whom. For me personally, I will be honored to play for whichever team in the WNBA drafts me, and I will look forward to joining them."

If and when Paige is asked about the possibility of being drafted by the Dallas Wings, I will guarantee you that her answer will be some version of, “I’m not thinking about the W at this time. All I’m focused on right now is winning a championship with UConn.”

That’s exactly as it should be.