Paige Bueckers, No. 1 pick at the 2025 WNBA draft and NCAA women’s basketball legend, hasn’t gone a game without her dad’s support.
The former University of Connecticut guard told TODAY.com at the draft April 14 that her dad, Bob Bueckers, always sends her a four-word text before she hits the court: “Be you, be great.”
“Just to sort of remind myself to be who I am, never shy away from that,” she says of her dad’s message. “Stand firm in who I am. If I’m the greatest version of myself, then that’s the best I can ask for. That’s the best I can do.”
Bob Bueckers was front and center at the draft, where Bueckers was picked by the Dallas Wings.
WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert poses for a photo with the number one overall draft pick Paige Bueckers on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York.Mike Lawrence / NBAE via Getty Images
Leading up to Monday’s big night, Bueckers was already expected to be the No. 1 pick after she brought UConn a national title at this year’s NCAA tournament. Ever since fans began to recognize her early collegiate stardom, all eyes have been on Bueckers.
The 23-year-old opened up to TODAY.com about the pressures of the spotlight and how her support group helps to keep her grounded.
“I feel like I’ve adapted in so many different ways mentally in terms of letting go of those attachments to other people’s expectations, other people’s comments, opinions,” she says.
“And just being who I am and surrounding myself with people who love me for me, people whose opinions I really care about and value, people who know me,” she continues.
Bueckers has 3.6 million followers on TikTok and 2.3 million on Instagram, with some of her videos reaching over 45 million views. Despite her massive following, Bueckers says taking a break from social media has contributed to how she’s dealt with fame and fandom.
“Not having social media, taking a break from that — it’s always great for your mental,” she says. “Just getting away from it and detoxing yourself. It helps you be present and be where your feet are and not worrying about anything else.”
During her five years at UConn, Bueckers has “fought a lot of adversity, battled through injuries, battled through good days, bad days,” she explains.
When asked if she ever considered quitting basketball, Bueckers says, “Honestly, yeah.”
“Moments where I let everything get to me, forgot to be where I was and focused on things I can’t control,” she continues. “But (I’m) getting back to the point where I find my joy and won’t let anything take it away — no circumstance, nobody.”
Along with relying on her family and friends, as well as taking breaks from social media, Bueckers has openly leaned on her faith whenever she has dealt with hardship.
Specifically, Bueckers says she constantly has one Bible verse in mind: Proverbs 3:5-6.
Per the King James Version, the verse goes, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”
“It’s like my life motto,” Bueckers says. “Just trusting in Him, giving up my own understanding on things and submitting everything I have to Him and He’ll take care of me.”
