The grand opening of DICK’S House of Sport’s new Dallas location this weekend became a showcase of sports, community, and the rising influence of women’s basketball in the city. The two-day celebration at the 100,000-plus square foot store on Dallas Parkway was designed to feel like a festival, turning what could have been a retail launch into a citywide event.
Each morning, fans lined up early for giveaways that included DSG soccer balls for kids, mystery gift cards, and the ever-popular Stanley Quenchers. Inside the store, families explored interactive spaces like a climbing wall, golf simulators, and multi-sport cages that let athletes test gear while measuring performance. The atmosphere carried the energy of both a sporting event and a block party, with DJs, live competitions, and marquee athlete appearances keeping crowds engaged.
The biggest draws were the athletes. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver George Pickens headlined Friday’s ribbon-cutting and autograph session, which stretched long into the evening with fans eager to meet them. But the spotlight shifted Saturday to the “Three For All Classic,” a youth girls’ 3-on-3 exhibition game played outside on a custom half-court built for the event, with Dallas Wings stars Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale coaching and cheering from the sidelines.
Following the competition, the Top Achievers Foundation — the youth group that supplied the players — received a surprise Sports Matter Grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. A check for $20,000 was presented to support the organization’s youth development programs.
And the fan response didn’t stop when the game ended. After the tournament, Bueckers signed autographs for an hour and a half, with the line of fans wrapping around the building as people waited for a chance to meet her, collect a signature, and take photos.
Inside the store, that visibility was unmistakable. Alongside Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, and FC Dallas gear, racks featured Wings merchandise — including Bueckers jerseys, shirts, and hats. Fans could also browse apparel for other WNBA stars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink, a sign of how women’s basketball is being positioned as a central part of Dallas’s professional sports landscape.
For Bueckers and Ogunbowale, the event became another reminder of how basketball can bridge generations, connect communities, and turn a store opening into something much bigger.
Paige Bueckers on Giving Back and Building Community
DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20, 2025: Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings coaches her team during the Three For All Classic at the grand opening of DICK’S House of Sport in North Dallas. (Photo by DICK’S Sporting Goods)
For Bueckers, the event wasn’t just another appearance on her calendar. She appreciated the chance to stand alongside a foundation rooted in youth development, saying it reflected what she values most as both a professional athlete and a public figure. Service, connection, and the chance to build relationships are principles she carries with her off the court, and she explained that made her decision to participate feel natural rather than obligatory.
“It’s really cool, just to be able to partner with this foundation, to be able to give back to the community, to be able to interact with the community through sports, through the game that we love, and to meet new people, building new relationships, and to be able to give is what I’m all about,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So this partnership was an easy decision. I’m really excited to be here at the Three For All Classic.”
When reflecting on her favorite parts of the day, Bueckers drew a line between competition and conversation. She said the thrill of watching young players battle in a spirited three-on-three setting stood out, but just as important were the quieter moments on the sidelines — chatting, laughing, and exchanging advice with kids who reminded her of herself at that age. Those small interactions, she noted, were as memorable to her as the games themselves.
“Obviously, the competition, seeing people compete, play the game that we all love, and have fun. And then just meeting the girls, getting to talk to them, chop it up a little bit, and have those interactions,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
The Three For All Classic didn’t just give Bueckers a chance to coach — it stirred memories of the environments that ignited her competitive streak. She said her mentality was shaped at an early age during summers in Minnesota, when camp drills turned into proving grounds and three-on-three tournaments became an early exposure to structured competition. Those experiences, she explained, laid the foundation for the way she approaches interactions with the next generation now.
“I kind of grew up going to Janet Karvonen camps in Minnesota,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Going to those camps, they were really eye-opening for me. I just wanted to win every single drill at camp, wanted to compete, wanted to be the best. That kind of sets the stage for what you want to be in the long term. Learning how to compete and win, and play with different players at camps, building your fundamentals and skills at a young age sets the foundation for what you want to look like and who you want to be as you get older. Gus Macker was a three-on-three league, like the Three For All, where it’s a different version of basketball than the five-on-five format, and it’s a lot of fun. And you’re just trying to win. Those are a couple of vivid ones that really shaped who I wanted to be.”
Dallas Sports Connection
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JUNE 18: Paige Bueckers supported by her teammates from the Dallas Wings throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 18, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.
The presence of Prescott and Pickens reinforced how Dallas athletes consistently show up for one another across teams and leagues, creating a shared sense of identity that stretches from the football field to the basketball court. For Bueckers, participating alongside established stars from the Cowboys reinforced that she is part of something larger than her own season or team.
She said appearances like this help her feel woven into the broader sports fabric of Dallas, where athletes embrace the same fans, share the same spotlight, and build connections that extend well beyond game day.
“It just provides a way for you to connect with the community and connect with the people that support you throughout the entire season,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I want to do that for the entirety of how long I’m here—just be one with the people and embrace being in Dallas.”
That connection has only deepened since her arrival in Dallas. What began as a transition to a new city quickly grew into something more personal, as Bueckers built a daily circle of teammates and friends who became like family. She has made a point of investing in the city outside of basketball, attending games across Dallas’s crowded sports landscape — from the Cowboys and Stars to the Mavericks and even Trinity FC — as a way to fully embrace the community.
By rooting herself in both relationships and local traditions, she said, Dallas has started to feel less like a stop on her professional journey and more like a place she can truly call home.
“Just starting off not really knowing anybody, then building a community of friends and family—people who I might not call family, but who I hang out with every single day, go to war with, go to work with,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And then we hang out and kick it off the court, too. I love going to sporting events—Stars games, Cowboys games, Mavericks, of course, Trinity FC. Every single team, I want to get out and support and just be one here. This is home base, and I love it here.”
Paige Bueckers Reflects on Winning Rookie of the Year
DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20: Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers speaks to youth participants while holding a microphone during the “Three For All Classic” at the grand opening of DICK’S House of Sport in North Dallas. (Photo by DICK’S Sporting Goods)
The Dallas community has embraced Bueckers, and her Rookie of the Year honor symbolized that partnership. She said receiving the award in a surprise appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show made the recognition even more meaningful.
“It was really cool to be on The J Hudson Show, to do it in the Spirit Walk, and to have that surprise element,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I was really grateful for the whole experience. It means so much to me in terms of what my teammates were to me, what my coaching staff was to me, and how the city and Dallas organization embraced me and helped me be my most confident self. It was really a team award.”
When asked about Bueckers’ rookie season, Ogunbowale didn’t hesitate to reflect on what she had seen up close over months of practices, travel, and games. As a veteran voice in the Wings’ backcourt, she has watched plenty of first-year players struggle with the grind of the WNBA schedule, the pressure of expectations, and the challenge of finding their place on a team. The partnership with Bueckers, she added, has only strengthened since the start of the season. She said their bond off the court helps them thrive as teammates.
“It grew every day. I think off -ourt helps because we get along so well. She’s cool people—we love being around each other, having fun with each other—and that’s going to transfer to the court when we figure it out,” Ogunbowale told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “The year she had was unheard of. She’s going to be great in this league for a really long time, and I’m just happy and proud I get to witness it firsthand.”
But with Bueckers, she said the difference was obvious: her poise never wavered, and her consistency stood out even during a season where wins were hard to come by. For Ogunbowale, that reliability wasn’t just impressive — it was proof that her teammate is built to last in the league.
“Regardless of the record, she did exactly what she was supposed to do and then some,” Ogunbowale told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Having a great rookie season like that is hard, especially on a team that’s not really winning. She showed up every day, did the work, and like I said, she’s going to be great in this league for a long time. I’m super happy Dallas was able to draft her and just continue building with her.”
Beyond her personal adjustment, Bueckers pointed to Ogunbowale’s mentorship as a factor in her development. She said the two have built a relationship where trust and encouragement flow both ways.
“We’ve grown a lot throughout the entire year, and we have a great relationship where we can talk to each other about anything and help each other be better,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She’s a great vet to have. I’ve learned a lot from her. She’s been a great support system and embraced me, helping me be my most confident self. So to have these interactions together where we’re interacting with the community and building that way—it’s really fun.”
Arike Ogunbowale Talks Mentorship and Connection
DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20, 2025: Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale poses for photos with fans during the grand opening of DICK’S House of Sport in North Dallas. (Photo by DICK’S Sporting Goods)
For Ogunbowale, the clinic was personal. She said seeing young players in the same position she once was reminded her why she values her role as a mentor. The energy of the Three For All Classic brought back memories of her own childhood, when she looked up to athletes and benefited from their guidance.
“It was fun. I mean, I love seeing young talent. I can just remember myself being that young, just having aspirations, loving basketball, loving the sport, being around my teammates,” Ogunbowale told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So it’s just cool that I’m in the position now where I can be a role model to them and just give back, be present, talk to them, and help them out. It was a great environment.”
Her memories of former NBA player Devin Harris’s Milwaukee camps remain vivid. Ogunbowale recalled how those summer sessions gave her an outlet to compete, learn fundamentals, and connect with peers who shared the same aspirations. She said those experiences taught her not only the skills of the game but also the importance of having role models who showed up and made themselves accessible to the next generation. That perspective, she added, is one she carries with her when she works with kids now.
“Devin Harris — he played in the NBA, from Milwaukee — he used to always have a camp every year. A lot of me and my friends, guys and girls, would go up there. I can vividly remember just having a great time there,” Ogunbowale told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And like I said, it’s just great now to be in that position where I can show up for kids and be that role model for them.”
Ogunbowale also reflected on her years in Dallas, where she has grown from a promising draft pick into a veteran presence and community fixture. She said being drafted by the Wings didn’t just tie her to a professional franchise — it anchored her to the city in a way that makes her feel invested in its growth. She has made Dallas her permanent home, embracing both its sports culture and its people, and said moments like the DICK’S House of Sport event reaffirm her commitment to giving back and strengthening the bond between the Wings and the community.
“I’ve been here since I was drafted, so it’s like my second home now. I live here. I try to give back to the city what they give to us every night,” Ogunbowale told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Win, lose, or draw, they’re in the stands cheering us on. I just want to be present and show that I appreciate them any way I can—being out in the community, being that person for the youth, and even for adult fans.”
For Ogunbowale, moments like the clinic tied her past experiences to her present role in Dallas. From camps in Milwaukee to years with the Wings, she said giving back has become as important as anything she does on the court — a commitment that continues to shape her bond with the city and its fans.
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