There is no doubt that Paige Buckers has made college basketball history and created a huge fan base that is sure to follow her as she moves on to the WNBA. But her hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota, has taken their desire to honor her to the next level.
Welcome to Paige Bueckers, Minnesota
The Hopkins, Minnesota City Council recently voted and passed a motion to proclaim this coming May 16 “Paige Bueckers Day” in recognition of her many accomplishments in college basketball and her recent selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft to play for the Dallas Wings.
The City Council’s decision went even further and included renaming the city for the upcoming May 16, which will mark Bueckers’ WNBA debut. On that day, Hopkins will officially become “Paige Bueckers, Minnesota,” although just for 24 hours.
The Hopkins city council recently voted to celebrate “Paige Bueckers Day” on May 16, which is the date of Bueckers’s official WNBA debut with the Wings. Additionally, the city voted unanimously to rename Hopkins to “Paige Bueckers, Minn.,” for the day. https://t.co/L2cjvg6AGH pic.twitter.com/bSzXdThTU0
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The city council’s rationale for the proposal left little doubt as to how much they value Bueckers in her hometown.
“Paige Bueckers made a name for herself as a Hopkins High School basketball player, becoming known as one of the best to ever do it at the high school level in Minnesota and moving on to the University of Connecticut,” the document reads.
“While playing with the Huskies, and despite many injuries and setbacks, Bueckers set gained numerous accolades and awards, winning both the Naismith and Wooden Awards and ending her college career by leading the school to its 12th national title.”
Bueckers played four seasons for the University of Connecticut, where she averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. In the 123 games she played, she scored 2439 points, 931 points on field goals, and 236 points on three-pointers.
Her collegiate career included numerous accolades and awards. The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Award and the John R. Wooden Player of The Year Award, both for the 2020-2021 season, stand out.
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In her senior season, Bueckers led the UConn Huskies to the NCAA Division I title. The 23-year-old guard scored 17 points in the title game against South Carolina.
Bueckers was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NCAA Draft by the Dallas Wings. She will also play in the Unrivaled three-on-three basketball league.
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