Paige Bueckers' Texas Gesture Catches Kevin Durant's Attention

In the summer of 2024, Paige Bueckers, a former UConn Huskies women's basketball star, garnered significant social media attention for her offseason activities, which included appearances at high-profile events such as the US Open in New York and various fashion shows around the world.

This led to criticism from fans who expressed concerns that Bueckers was not dedicating enough time to improving her skills ahead of her final college basketball season. In response, Bueckers defended herself in October 2024 by stating that while people saw her public outings, they did not witness the extensive work she put in behind the scenes, emphasizing her confidence that her efforts would ultimately show in her performance.

Bueckers effectively silenced her critics by leading UConn to the NCAA championship in April 2025. Shortly after this victory, she was drafted by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA Draft and had to quickly transition to preparing for the 2025 WNBA season, where she went on to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Following the conclusion of her rookie season, Bueckers resumed her offseason activities, including attending the University of Texas Longhorns' "Red River Rivalry" football game against the Oklahoma Sooners on October 12, 2025. During an interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe, she openly showed her support for Texas by displaying the Hook 'em Horns hand gesture, which was captured on social media.

This display caught the attention of NBA legend Kevin Durant, a former University of Texas basketball player, who shared a screenshot of Bueckers' gesture on his Instagram story. The interaction sparked speculation about potential future collaborations between Durant and Bueckers in Texas, though Durant's upcoming season with the Houston Rockets may pose scheduling challenges.