CNN
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When most people heard the name Paige Bueckers, they were defeated by the Minnesota Rink on Friday, 84-99 by Dallas Wings, considering the basketball star who led the UConn Huskies to a national title in April.
They don’t think of a city of 20,000 people southwest of Minneapolis. But they may be now.
That’s because Hopkins, Minnesota (Bookers’ hometown) temporarily renamed “Paige Booker, Minnesota” on Friday.
The city celebrated with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring beer, ice cream and even sushi rolls named after Booker.
Those stuck to watch the game saw a decent debut for Hopkins’ native outshawn by Naphesa Collier, another former UConn star who scored 34 on par with Lynx records for most points in the season opener per ESPN.
Collier scored 18 points in the third quarter alone, opening up what was a tight game at that point, with her teammate Courtney Williams adding 25 points, 4 rebounds and nine assists in 28 minutes. Meanwhile, the Bueckers notched 10 points, 7 rebounds and two assists for Dallas.
“Location for Growth” was the review of the Bueckers for her debut. “You have to have a starting point. You need to have a foundation to build. We don’t want to overreact to losses, but we know there are a lot of things that we need to clean and do better.”
Regarding her hometown had changed her name to her, Buker said, “I didn’t believe it at first.”
“I thought it was fake news,” Wings Guard said. “But it’s surreal too, I don’t know, it’s crazy for me to name the whole city after me, but to make sure I can give back to the whole city that was so given to me.
Collier has been one of the league’s MVP awards favorites after finishing second after A’ja Wilson last year, and said her heart has been collective success this season.
“I’m focusing honestly. I’m more than MVP, I want to win the championship this year,” she explained. “The awards will come after that.”
The second game in the series takes place in Minneapolis on Wednesday night, and is only 10 miles from Bookers’ hometown.
Elsewhere in the opening night, Kelsey Plum scored a WNBA record of 37 in the season opener per ESPN.
Rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iliafen also made impressive debuts. Britney Sykes led Washington’s score with 22, while Alisha Gray had 25 for her dreams.
Clark and Lease rivalry resume on Saturday
Saturday will see the most notable matchups of opening weekend as Indiana Fever wins the Chicago Sky. This is the game in which Kate Linklark plays Angel Reese in the latest version of rivalry that helped bring women’s basketball to new heights.
Clark is trying to build on his rookie season, with everyone except one of the 67 votes, selected as Rookie of the Year. Other votes went to Lease.
“I’ve been in this league for a year. I know I’m in. I know I can perform. I know I can make my teammates better each night.
As for Lease, her eyesight is firmly set to improve on the 13-27 record that painted the bottom of last year’s Eastern Conference.
“I’m just thrilled to be here and back,” she told the WNBA. “I’ve only got one game short of last year’s playoffs, so I just want to get better every day and get to the playoffs.”
Saturday will also begin last year’s champion New York Liberty’s season with the Las Vegas ace.