WNBA and Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers has landed a starring role on the big screen, according to a report by Deadline.
Coming off a record-breaking rookie season and looking at a potential WNBA lockout, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick seems to be looking ahead. This will be Bueckers’ first major starring role off the court; she’ll also reportedly executive produce the film.
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Though it’s a departure from the usual, the project, titled “Jess & Pearl,” offers a familiar setting for Beuckers. It centers around two women’s basketball stars who develop a friendship as teammates, until fame and the business side of college sports threaten to tear them apart. The film is based on an original idea by Zahir McGhee, who is best known for his work on the TV series “Scandal.“
Bueckers is one of the most decorated college basketball players in recent memory and helped the UConn Huskies win the 2025 National Championship. In her four active seasons (2022-23 injury-redshirt) as a Husky, Bueckers won AP Player of the Year honors, was a four-time NCAA All-Region, four-time NCAA All-Tourney, three-time Big East Player of the Year, and three-time All-Big East honoree, among many other college accolades.
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Following her stellar first year as a pro, Bueckers was named Rookie of the Year, WNBA All-Rookie and made her first All-Star team. Although the Wings finished Bueckers’ rookie season with just 10 wins, the 24-year-old guard proved why she was the No. 1 overall pick by shooting 47.7% from the field, 88.8% from the free-throw line, and averaging 1.6 steals per game.
In her rookie campaign, Bueckers made history by finishing with the third most total points for a rookie in WNBA history and also finishing with the third most assists for a rookie. She posted 35 double-digit scoring games in 36 appearances, which ranks second (tied) all-time by a rookie. Bueckers ranked fifth in points per game, sixth in steals, and ninth in assists per game in year one.