Paige Bueckers didn’t hold back when asked about Kaitlyn Chen’s performance Wednesday night. The Dallas Wings star called her former UConn teammate’s finishing ability “one of the best layup packages I’ve ever seen.” That’s not just praise — it’s a statement from one of women’s basketball’s most polished scorers.
The moment came after the Golden State Valkyries beat the Wings 91-80 at Chase Center, extending their winning streak to four games. But the real story wasn’t just the scoreboard. It was a reunion of three former Huskies — Bueckers, Azzi Fudd (both Wings), and Chen (Valkyries) — who won a national championship together in 2025.
How Chen Stepped Up Off the Bench
Chen, a third-round pick in last year’s draft, dropped 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting in just 25 minutes off the bench. She added two rebounds and two assists. More importantly, she attacked the rim relentlessly, drawing gasps from the crowd and earning that high praise from her former teammate.
“She affects the game in so many ways,” Bueckers said, as captured by Mercury News reporter Joseph Dycus in a postgame video. “Tonight, just getting penetrations, getting to the rim. She has one of the best layup packages I’ve ever seen.”
Bueckers knows a thing or two about elite scoring. She finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and eight assists — though she needed 13 shots to get there. Fudd struggled too, scoring 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting, but she racked up five steals.
The Reunion Game
Wednesday was more than a regular-season matchup for these three. They shared a locker room in Storrs, Connecticut, chasing a title. Now they’re on opposite sides in the WNBA, and the competitive edge is real.
The first half was a wild swing: Dallas won the first quarter 26-17, then Golden State flipped the script with a 27-7 second quarter. The Valkyries held on through a back-and-forth second half, improving to 10-5 overall and 7-2 at home. The Wings fell to 9-6.
Chen is averaging 6.1 points on 52.2% shooting — including 56.6% from three — in 13.9 minutes per game off the bench. That kind of efficiency is exactly why Golden State snatched her in the third round.
The Wings get a quick turnaround, facing the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
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