Her confidence comes partly from her faith, Ms. Bueckers said on a video call in March, a couple weeks before the N.C.A.A. final. It was a rest day for the Huskies, and she had slept until 11 a.m. that morning. She had gone to a sauna and shot 100 free throws before the call; afterward, she had a massage appointment.
Ms. Bueckers, who grew up outside Minneapolis, described her faith as a major part of her identity, which has also been shaped by her family. Her parents, Amy Dettbarn and Bob Bueckers, divorced when she was a toddler, and Ms. Bueckers was raised mostly by her father. She has three half siblings, including a 12-year-old half brother, Drew, whose mother is Black. “Drew doesn’t leave her hip,” Mr. Bueckers said figuratively, adding that Ms. Bueckers had been a role model to all of her siblings.
Ms. Bueckers was raised Catholic but now attends a church that she characterized as nondenominational. Her faith, she explained, has helped her be more decisive. “I know that whatever decision I’m going to make is going to be the right one, and it’s going to turn out the right way,” she said.
Has Ms. Bueckers, who works with the stylist Brittany Hampton, decided on a look for Monday’s W.N.B.A. draft? In fact, Ms. Hampton said, she is planning to wear several. “Her draft day is her opulence moment,” the stylist said. “It’s going to be power dressing for sure.” Ms. Hampton, 36, said to expect “liquid rhinestone cascades,” “embellishments” and “bold elegance.”
For last year’s draft, which Ms. Bueckers attended as the guest of former UConn teammates, she wore a Louis Vuitton ensemble of a white vest, shirt and trousers. A TikTok video of her showing it off received comments including “GIRL GOT DRIPPP,” “The fit is GIVINGGG” and “Paige A Whole Vibe.”
