Minnesota basketball sensation Paige Bueckers cast in new movie

“Jess & Pearl” is being made for Apple Original Films.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 30, 2025 at 8:18PM
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been cast in a new movie. (Tony Gutierrez/The Associated Press)

Paige Bueckers, one of the greatest basketball players to ever hail from Minnesota, is going Hollywood.

Bueckers, who broke numerous records while playing for Hopkins High School, has been cast in an upcoming sports movie for Apple.

According to Deadline, the WNBA’s current rookie of the year will star in “Jess & Pearl,” a drama about friends who turn into rivals on the basketball court. Bueckers, 24, also will serve as an executive producer. The idea originated from “Scandal” writer Zahir McGhee.

Bueckers, who was born in Edina, was named Metro Player of the Year three consecutive times by the Minnesota Star Tribune. She led the UConn Huskies to four Final Fours and one national championship. She currently plays for the Dallas Wings.

She’s not the only WNBA star to try her hand at acting. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky has a cameo in “A House of Dynamite,” now streaming on Netflix. Former players who have appeared in TV and film roles include Lisa Leslie and Renee Montgomery.

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

See Moreicon