Hoops star Paige Bueckers shares Christmas traditions and holiday-glam game plan
Wings guard outlines family rituals, favorite foods and a pink hair moment as she readies for a 3-on-3 debut with Breeze BC Miami
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, detailed her Christmas traditions and holiday-glam game plan in a recent interview. With a demanding schedule as a pro athlete, she said time with family and familiar rituals help keep her grounded during the holidays. She is set to debut for the Unrivaled league’s Breeze BC Miami team on Jan. 5, a run that will feature 3-on-3 play and a chance to widen her versatility.
Born in Minnesota, Bueckers described her family’s Christmas tree-trimming routine as a cornerstone of the season, followed by long sessions of board games and card games. Favorites include Skyjo, Uno, Sorry!, and Yahtzee, and they also watch seasonal films, with Elf among her top picks. On the table for holiday meals are creamed corn, mashed potatoes, Snickers salad and honey ham, dishes she doesn’t typically prepare herself but says she could master if needed.
Beyond the kitchen, Bueckers noted the best holiday gift she has received or given: her dad and his girlfriend gave her a Cloud Massage foot massager that aided recovery after she tore her ACL the year before her junior season. She also recalled gifting someone a cruise, underscoring her belief that experiences trump material items for meaningful memories.
On style, the six-foot guard is known for hair-color shifts, and she described her latest transformation as a pink ombre created with Madison Reed ColorWonder demi-permanent color in Pink Orchid. Hints of blond remain, keeping the look bold yet true to her. For holiday glam, she keeps makeup natural with a touch of glow, using powder, foundation, mascara and scents such as Santal & Vetiver by Salt & Stone or Attrape-Rêves by Louis Vuitton.
Off the court, Bueckers remains a centerpiece for the Wings, known for elite scoring, leadership and clutch plays. She was selected as the 2025 WNBA’s overall first pick by Dallas and earned Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year in September. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert presented the honor on a surprise telecast of The Jennifer Hudson Show. She is excited to compete in 3-on-3 during the off-season, noting that the format fits her game and that Breeze BC Miami has a young, intriguing roster.
Looking ahead, Bueckers said the holidays will remain a time to recharge and reconnect with family even as her professional calendar fills with games, travel and new styling moments. As she balances basketball and family traditions, the holidays feel especially meaningful and she looks forward to building on her early success with both on- and off-court moments.