“This is just the beginning,” Bueckers told reporters with a smile. “You don’t ever want to assume anything in life. This is a fresh start, and we’re ready to build something special in Dallas.”

Bueckers, 22, enters the league with a decorated college career but also a story of resilience. She won the Naismith Trophy as a freshman, immediately turning heads with her court vision and poise. But the journey wasn’t smooth. A knee injury sidelined her for 19 games during her sophomore year, and a torn ACL forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 season. Still, she returned stronger than ever and