When Cathy Engelbert stepped up to the mic and declared, “With the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings select Paige Bueckers from the University of Connecticut,” it wasn’t just a draft announcement—it was a cultural moment. Social media exploded. The internet combusted. And somewhere in Dallas, Arike Ogunbowale hit the floor—not from an injury, but from divine gratitude, tweeting: “I just fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD!”

But as the city exhaled and jersey orders flooded in, a quieter storm brewed beneath the surface. Because in Dallas—a city that lives and dies by its basketball—the arrival of a new star doesn’t just bring hope. It brings questions. Can Bueckers shine in a locker room already blazing with talent? Is there space for a fresh face in a franchise that still runs through Arike?

According to one former Nigerian national player and current WNBA analyst, Bueckers’ path to prominence may be more complex than fans would like to admit. The reasons? Two names: Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington.

“When Arike Ogunbowale is on that team and heading into her seventh season there and you also got DiJonai Carrington, I mean, these are full-blown stars on this team,” Ros stated in a recent episode of Good Follow. Her words were not dismissive of Paige’s talent, but they reflected the reality of stepping into a locker room already brimming with proven firepower.

Ros also pointed out the physicality of the WNBA game compared to the college circuit: “And I also think like there might be a natural transition period or adjustment period being a guard in the WNBA is hard. Paige’s built wiry and the defenders are bigger, stronger, faster. So my question is: can Paige keep up her efficiency as a shooter?”

The skepticism isn’t without precedent. Even Caitlin Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, faced turbulence in her transition. In her WNBA debut against the Connecticut Sun, Clark dropped 20 points but also recorded a staggering 10 turnovers — the most ever in a league debut. She followed it up with a single-digit scoring performance, the first such instance since her freshman year.

Still, Ros was quick to highlight one silver lining: “I know that was something she was always obsessed with and loved, but her shooting ability will create spacing. I think she’s going to eat off of the spacing created for her by Arike Ogunbowale.”

And there lies the core of the issue. Arike isn’t just a scorer; she’s a spacing engine. In 2024, she averaged 22.2 points per game — second only to A’ja Wilson — and was a menace on both ends with 2.1 steals per game. She sank 2.9 threes per game, second only to Clark, and while her shooting percentages (38.3% FG, 34.6% 3PT) weren’t elite, her shot creation bent defenses constantly, freeing up lanes for teammates.

“Dallas now has so much wing depth because it’s not just Paige Bueckers or Arike,” Ros added. “They also added Zia James, which is a great guard player out of the collegiate side. You have Ty Harris. You have DiJonai Carrington on the wing and I think that’ll be big for Arike who played the most minutes in the league last season — 38.6 minutes per game or something like that. My girl can have a chance to rest, which might be beautiful for the rest of the team. So that depth is exciting.”

Carrington, who was traded to Dallas, is more than just depth. She’s defense incarnate. Named 2024’s WNBA Most Improved Player and a First-Team All-Defensive pick, she averaged 1.6 steals per game and routinely neutralized elite perimeter threats. With the Wings finishing dead last in defensive rating last season — conceding 117.7 points per 100 possessions — Carrington’s arrival is not just timely, it’s transformative.

Offensively, Carrington added 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2024, doing so without demanding the ball constantly. Her low-usage efficiency makes her an ideal complement to high-usage stars like Arike.

And there’s also familiarity. Carrington reunites with her former Baylor teammate and partner NaLyssa Smith, as well as Curt Miller, now the Wings’ general manager. That level of comfort could help her flourish from the get-go.

So, can Paige Bueckers shine in Dallas? Absolutely — but she’ll have to find her rhythm within a roster already loaded with talent and identity. The spotlight is shared in Dallas, and the margin for error is thinner than a buzzer-beater.

Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark: The Rivalry That’s About to Break the WNBA Wide Open

Still, all eyes will be on her the moment she steps on the court — and that moment officially arrives May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx. But let’s be real — the date everyone’s circled in red is June 27. That’s when Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark go head-to-head in one of the most anticipated rookie matchups in league history.

Clark has already proven she can fill arenas — cities have literally had to upgrade venues just to fit her growing fanbase. But guess what? Bueckers is moving the needle, too. After the Wings made her the No. 1 pick, ticket sales spiked 11x. SeatGeek reported a 905% traffic surge the day after the draft. Bueckers hasn’t even played a professional minute yet, and she’s already flipping the business of basketball.

That June 27 showdown? It’s the hottest ticket of the summer. The Wings had to move the game from their usual venue to the Dallas Mavericks’ American Airlines Center just to handle the demand. The cheapest ticket? $255. Courtside? Nearly $5,000. Lower bowl seats? A jaw-dropping $1,200 each. This isn’t just a game — it’s a moment.

And the drama writes itself: two former college rivals, two faces of a new WNBA era, each with something to prove. Bueckers owned the Sweet 16 in 2021. Clark clapped back in the 2024 Final Four. Now, it’s Round 3 — only this time, the lights are brighter, the stakes are higher, and the whole world is watching.

Ready or not, the future has arrived.