FIBA has a playful request for Paige Bueckers after Team USA’s gold-medal celebration originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Paige Bueckers left Berlin with a gold medal, a perfect Team USA record and one request from FIBA. The Dallas Wings star celebrated the United States’ 97-79 victory over France by embracing her teammates on the court. Photos captured Bueckers hugging Angel Reese, Kahleah Copper and World Cup MVP Breanna Stewart as the Americans celebrated their fifth consecutive championship.
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FIBA spotlighted the images in an Instagram post Monday morning.
“Good morning, World Champion Paige,” the organization wrote. “Can we get a hug too?”
It was a lighthearted message after a tournament that required Bueckers to embrace a much different role than the one she carries in Dallas.
Bueckers is the Wings’ offensive centerpiece, but Team USA did not need her to control the ball or lead the team in shot attempts.
The 6-foot guard adjusted.
Bueckers averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and one steal across six games. She committed to defending, moved the ball and supplied scoring without disrupting a rotation filled with established stars. Her defensive work was especially encouraging. Bueckers has always been recognized for her smooth jumper, midrange touch and ability to create offense, but the World Cup provided another demonstration of her versatility.
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She found ways to contribute when the ball was not in her hands. That adaptability matters for a player experiencing her first major tournament with the senior national team. The Americans had more talent than any opponent they faced, but collecting stars does not automatically create a functional lineup. Players such as Bueckers had to accept smaller individual roles to make the entire roster work.
The celebration will be brief.
Bueckers now returns to a Dallas team fighting for playoff positioning. The Wings entered the break at 24-16 and in eighth place, but only two games separated them from the fourth-place Atlanta Dream. Dallas has already secured its first playoff appearance in three years. Improving its seed could provide a more favorable first-round matchup and give the Wings a better chance to extend their season.
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Bueckers will immediately go from being one member of a deep Team USA rotation to carrying a significant portion of Dallas’ offensive responsibility. She will return with more than a medal. Bueckers proved she can influence winning in several ways, even when she is not asked to be the star.
