From the current footage, one can tell that Geno Auriemma had his beaded bracelet on. However, it was not the spiritual one, with the blue and silver metallic tones. Yet, the luck certainly seemed to be on his side, and then passed on to his favorite ex-UConn player to tease, Paige Bueckers. The Dallas Wings had lost seven straight heading into their matchup with the red-hot Golden State Valkyries, who were riding a three-game win streak. But despite the contrasting momentum, Bueckers rose to the occasion, leading the Wings to their first home victory of the season. With an 80–71 win, Dallas brought the soaring Valkyries crashing back to earth, convincingly snapping their streak.
Now, Bueckers could not be the player she is without Auriemma guiding her through each step of the way. “My journey became hers, in so many words,” Aurriemma once said, and he was like a proud dad watching his daughter grow past her college days into an anchor for her WNBA side. And with that also came the banters, the nudges, and some occasional “omg” moments. When the Huskies won the NCAA championship this past season, both held back tears as they hugged each other on the court. Bueckers later revealed what words were exchanged between the two in that moment. To no one’s surprise, she said, “Yeah, he told me he loved me and I told him I hated him.” Auriemma, of course, gave her a fitting reply.
While Huskies’ Azzi Fudd was fielding a question from the media, Geno Auriemma staged a classic coach move. He grabbed Paige Bueckers’s sleeve and used it to wipe his glasses, and then even tugged it to get her closer for a better polish. The look on Paige’s face? Priceless. She pressed her lips together, barely avoiding a full-on eyeroll moment.
But this time, Bueckers laid the facts straight, without any wholesome jokes. She spoke with the media before the game and was asked what it means to have Auriemma in the building to support her. “It means everything,” she said. “Just for him to come and support, and for him to be able to be here and watch me and Kaitlyn, he has done so much for us and our entire basketball careers. So it will be a full-circle moment,” Bueckers added.
And her postgame comments just showed how much she respects Geno.
A familiar face in the crowd in Dallas
Coach Geno Auriemma is sitting courtside to support his former @uconnwbb players Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen!
GSV-DAL on League Pass | WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/aBkUL6IP8u
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 18, 2025
With her former UConn coach Geno Auriemma watching from the stands, Bueckers seemed to be channeling her college days, turning in a vintage performance. She led all scorers with 20 points, added 2 assists, and made her presence felt on both ends of the court. Her defensive effort was just as impressive, as she recorded 4 crucial steals, 2 blocks, and 4 rebounds, showcasing the all-around game that made her a collegiate superstar.
And Geno’s characteristic game speech playing on repeat inside Bueckers’ head probably boosted all of it. “It was cool. It was definitely weirder for him to be a spectator and a fan being at the game court side. I could just hear him in the back of my mind with all the lovely things he would have to say. It was fun,” she said on her ex-coach’s presence after the win.
Aurriemma was there to watch two of his beloved graduates play ball as Kaitlyn Chen was re-signed by the Valkyries, but did not take the court immediately on her first day back. She will get her time in the sun as Aurriemma has assured that she belongs with the big girls. He said, “She deserves to be in the league. Her competitiveness and her drive, she deserves to be in the league. She deserves to be playing professional basketball. So, I’m thrilled for her.”
So, fair to say that thanks to Geno, Bueckers finally got to taste victory after such a long dry spell. Despite consistently delivering standout performances and leading by example on the court, the results had largely slipped through her fingers. Today, however, the scoreboard finally reflected her effort and determination. It was the kind of win she had been chasing all year – hard-earned, emotional, and long overdue. With a sense of renewed confidence, she hopes this marks not just a turning point, but the beginning of a habit she can carry forward.
Huskies Reunited as Kaitlyn Chen and Paige Bueckers Have a Wholesome Moment
Kaitlyn Chen was first unexpectedly signed by the Golden State Valkyries as the 30th overall pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft. She was the talk of the town in the preseason game as a packed Chase Center roared at her only basket. Yet, despite being a fan favourite, she was waived. Now, in another twist, Chen was recently re-signed just before their game against the Wings, and many fans felt that it was meant to be. Chen had her first game against a fellow Husky, the one who is taking the WNBA by storm.
Before the game, Bueckers and Chen shared a warm moment as Chen approached Bueckers with a quick tap on the back, followed by a brief but heartfelt hug. Bueckers lit up with a smile as she returned the embrace, clearly delighted to see her friend thriving and making her mark in the league.
Bueckers also expressed her admiration for Chen in the pre-game interview, saying, “Very excited for her. Extremely happy. I mean, obviously, we’re great friends, we’re like sisters. So for her to get this opportunity with a great new organization, and getting picked up right before our game, I was happy to see that.”
Although Chen didn’t share the court with Bueckers in this game, the occasion still marked an important opportunity in her young career. The Golden State Valkyries are a new expansion franchise focused on building for the future, and Chen, a promising talent, is eager to carve out her place. If she finds her rhythm here and makes the most of her chances, she could lay the foundation for a long and stable career. With both players just beginning their WNBA journeys, there could be many more competitive matchups between Chen and Bueckers in the years to come.
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