April 2025 marked Paige Bueckers’ victory lap after UConn’s national championship win, ending a nine-year drought. But in the midst of the celebration, her heart was elsewhere. As she sat basking in glory, her thoughts turned to a certain Seattle Storm guard, her twin in spirit, if not in looks.”That’s my twin. That’s my best friend. That’s my sister,” Nika Muhl had said, a sentiment Bueckers has echoed since 2021. For three unforgettable seasons, from 2020 to 2024, Paige and Muhl were inseparable, both on and off the court. And even in her shining moment, Paige made sure her twin’s light never dimmed.

Bueckers’ storybook run has been topped with media appearances these past days. After ticking off Today network, the star guard was on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, taking a victory parade with the trophy in hand. But even as she filmed the appearance, took in the Big Apple, and shared every single championship-winning moment of her teammates, she couldn’t let the day, April 9th, just slip by.

It was her twin’s special day! And while she may have been required to be on schedule, a few minutes were reserved for Muhl.

“Twin Day!! Happy birthday sister 🫶 Locked I love u always 🤞,” she shared on Instagram, alongside a photo of the two, arms wrapped around each other in a tender moment. The love and connection these two shared wasn’t just about basketball; it was a bond forged in years of hard work, triumphs, and near-misses.

Nika, who had been part of the UConn team during its national championship journey, was no stranger to the spotlight. She had helped the Huskies reach the Final Four in 2024 but had to watch as her team lost to Iowa, led by Caitlin Clark, in a bitter end to her college career. Now on the sidelines after graduation, she cheered loud and proud as her alma mater clinched the 12th national championship. “Sobbing, happiness, tears,” Nika wrote on Instagram.

For four years, they shared the court, leaving Paige grappling to adjust as she left for the WNBA. “Not having Nika and Aliyah [Edwards] was really weird. I have had them my entire career here at UConn. So playing and adjusting, and not being able to hang out with them was definitely different,” she had admitted.

But now, that same sense of unbreakable connection will soon follow Paige Bueckers as she embarks on her next journey in the WNBA.

Paige Bueckers: Can She Live Up to Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Magic with the Dallas Wings?

As the WNBA draft approaches, Paige Bueckers is poised to make a similar impact to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who turned her No. 1 pick status into a top-five MVP finish and an All-WNBA first-team selection. While Clark faced a tough start with the Fever, she finished strong, averaging 23.1 PPG and 8.9 APG, leading her team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Bueckers, set to be the presumptive No. 1 pick, could follow a similar trajectory with the Dallas Wings, according to the Associated Press mock draft.

Unlike Clark, Bueckers is a more selective scorer, posting 19.9 PPG in her senior year after peaking at 21.9 PPG as a junior. Her ability to score efficiently, with a career-best .628 true shooting percentage, mirrors the efficiency of past WNBA legends like Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. Though Bueckers wasn’t as frequently used in pick-and-roll situations as Clark, when called upon, she excelled, averaging 1.2 points per play in pick-and-rolls, one of the best in NCAA history.

Defensively, Bueckers offers versatility, excelling in steals and blocks, especially for her size. Her efficiency and defensive potential make her a valuable addition to Dallas, where she can help the Wings recover from key roster losses and potentially lead them back to the playoffs. While she may not match Clark’s rookie stats, Bueckers’ impact will be felt immediately.