WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson gives her real opinion on new rookie Paige Bueckers

Stephanie Kaloi

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WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson gives her real opinion on new rookie Paige Bueckers image

There are a lot of new rookies in the WNBA and naturally fans want to know what the league's veterans think about each and every one of them — including Paige Bueckers.

During an April 17 interview with USA Today's Sports Seriously show, three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson opened up about what she thinks Bueckers will bring to the league.

For Wilson, one of the best things about Bueckers is how she carries herself and keeps herself together during games. "She plays with a sense of like 'I've been here before', whether it's the championship game or whether it's the first game of the season," she explained. "Her composure is something that has really stuck with me, and how she just carries herself on and off the court."

Wilson added that Bueckers has a way of connecting with fans that will also be a strong asset for both the young star and the Dallas Wings. "It's going to go so far, because it's relatable. People feel like they're very connected to her on a deeper level than just the athlete, and it's cool for her to see," she explained.

Bueckers certainly has a lot to live up to. She joins Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird as number one draft picks from UConn. Like Bueckers, Stewart, Moore, Charles, Taurasi, and Bird all played under Coach Geno Auriemma. 

More: UConn players to be drafted No. 1 overall: Paige Bueckers joins Maya Moore, Sue Bird, others as first WNBA pick

Bueckers is the first number one overall pick from UConn since 2016 when Stewart was drafted to the Seattle Storm after winning four consecutive NCAA titles. 

Stephanie Kaloi

Stephanie is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Her journalism career began entirely too long ago and is still her favorite thing to do. She covers women's sports (primarily basketball) and loves writing lengthy reports for no reason about exactly how each WNBA team will and will not succeed in any given season.