The star point guard posted a photo of the sold-out Dallas-area stadium on her Instagram story, which normally hosts the NFL’s Cowboys, during the pre-match ceremony, which included the Dutch and Japanese flags displayed at mid-field. She took a moment away from the action to grab a hot dog, which she also posted on her Instagram story, with the caption “in my element” — Bueckers has famously described hot dogs as a “top five food ever.”
Many of her Dallas Wings teammates joined Bueckers at AT&T Stadium for the match, as former Big East rival Maddy Siegrist, Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith, among others, all confirmed their presence on Instagram. Katie Fudd, the mother of fellow UConn alum Azzi Fudd, was also in attendance.
One of the most anticipated games of the group stage met every expectation at Jerry World, as the Dutch pitted a squad littered with top European players against Japan’s dynamic counter-attacking squad that entered the World Cup on the heels of several tremendous results. Japan ultimately scored two equalizing goals in the second-half, including Daichi Kamada’s towering 89th-minute header to cap off a 2-2 draw and steal a point for the Samurai Blue.
Beyond the scope of World Cup fever taking over North America, Bueckers has made a few soccer-related public appearances, most recently attending an NWSL match last September between Angel City FC and the Washington Spirit. There, she shared a hug with Washington forward Trinity Rodman, who signed a reported three-year, $6 million contract to become the highest-paid female soccer player in the world and is also the daughter of NBA great Dennis Rodman.
After a day embracing the beautiful game, the Dallas Wings will regroup and face off against Las Vegas Monday evening in a crucial Western Conference matchup. Bueckers was held out of Saturday’s game with a twisted ankle and will be a game-time decision Monday.