Paige Bueckers’ Teammate Sends 2-Word Message to 6x All-Star After Dallas Wings’ Sixth Straight Loss

No one felt the offseason shake-up harder than the Connecticut Sun. It was like someone hit the restart button. All five starters from last year – Alyssa Thomas, DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, Brionna Jones, and DeWanna Bonner – packed their bags and dipped from Uncasville. Just like that, a core that took the Sun to the playoffs year after year was scattered across the league. Carrington found herself down in Dallas, teaming up with rookie sensation Paige Bueckers while Thomas took her game to the Phoenix Mercury. But even though they’re now on different teams, it looks like some habits and moves are still rubbing off on each other.

When the Wings met the Mercury this week, we got more than just a battle of rosters – we got a reunion of vibes as Nai met Thomas and Satou Sabally faced her ex-franchise. And as it’s been going all season for Dallas… it ended in another L. The Wings fell 93-80 to the Mercury, dropping their record to 1-10.

But if there was one bright spot Dallas fans can hold on to, it’s Bueckers was finally back. After missing four games with a concussion and illness, she returned like she had something to prove. Made her first six shots and ended up with 35 points, going 13-for-19. A career night for her but sadly, it wasn’t enough. The rest of the Wings shot just 33% and couldn’t keep up with Phoenix’s balanced attack.

Now, even though the game had some big moments, one in particular had people talking. You know DiJonai, she’s all gas, no brakes. High-energy defense, hard drives to the rim, and that signature move where she uses her shoulder to clear space before draining a bucket is aggressive, it’s gritty, and it’s definitely earned her both fans and critics. Some call it reckless, others call it art. Either way, it’s her move.

Well, the 6X All Star did the exact same move during the game, pushing Arike Ogunbowale with her shoulder while driving to the hoop. And right behind her, Carrington was seen smiling. A fan put together a video of both moments and wrote, “That’s her move ik she’s proud as hell.”  Carrington saw it and replied with a repost that said, “same move ofccc,” with laughing emojis.

It just shows that their bond is still strong, even from opposite sides. And how couldn’t it be? These two aren’t just former teammates. They were ride-or-die for four seasons. Together, they made it to the playoffs every single year. They even had a Finals run in 2022. Both were crucial to that Sun success. Even off the court, their connection is strong even off the court as Carrington was always the first to hype up AT and DeWanna Bonner (AT’s partner) whenever a cute courtside moment happened. So they might be in different jerseys now, but they’re clearly still in sync.

And while this moment was fun for fans to catch, there was also someone else who caught everyone’s attention during the game

Paige Bueckers steps in to help teammate during quiet moment

Sometimes, it’s the quietest moves that speak the loudest. We already know Paige Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington have built a pretty solid bond this season. One of the earlier signs was right after Bueckers returned to the court, she walked straight over to Carrington during media time and playfully asked, “Did you miss me?” The surprise on Carrington’s face and her smile said it all – yes, she did.

Now, Bueckers may be a rookie in the WNBA, but she’s no stranger to big stages or building connections. With a huge fanbase from her UConn days and a mature, team-first mindset, she’s made it clear she’s here to be more than just a scorer. That rookie-vet relationship between her and Carrington has turned out to be both wholesome and real.

We saw another glimpse of that on Wednesday.

The Wings may have taken another tough loss to the Mercury, but Bueckers showed up in more ways than one. While she dropped a career-high, she also stepped in off the court – in a quiet but meaningful way. After the game, Carrington had a brief moment with her former Sun teammate, Thomas. But as the two connected, Carrington clearly didn’t want the cameras to catch their exchange. She put her hand up to block the view, but the camera kept rolling. That’s when Bueckers stepped in. 

May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) and guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard DiJonai Carrington (21) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

She casually stood in front of the lens, shielding the moment and giving her teammate the privacy she wanted. And that was that. A simple move, but a thoughtful one. The conversation between Carrington and Thomas stayed private, just like it was meant to. Instead of stories digging into what was said, everyone’s talking about what Bueckers did.

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