WATCH: Complete Highlights From Paige Bueckers' 35-Point Performance — See Every Basket From Her First 30-Point WNBA Game

Longtime WNBA veteran Li Yeuru turned heads with her comment on Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers over the weekend.

Yeuru, a center from China, was acquired by the Dallas Wings on Saturday. The Wings traded a second-round pick in the 2026 WNBA draft and a third-round selection in 2027 to the Seattle Storm in exchange for the 6-foot-7 center, originally from Changzhi, Shanxi, China. She’s been playing in the WNBA since 2022, when the Chicago Sky brought her to the U.S.

The veteran WNBA center turned heads with her first impression of the standout rookie point guard from the University of Connecticut.

Paige Bueckers in action for the Dallas Wings.

COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA – MAY 24: Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings runs up the court during the third quarter of a game between the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on May 24, 2025 in College Park, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The longtime WNBA veteran admitted that her first impression of Bueckers was that she’s “cute.”

“Yesterday with the news, a lot of friends told me, ‘Wow, you will play with Paige!’ And I said, ‘Yes, I do, mmm-hmm!’” Li gushed. “They said a lot of fans love her, and they said she’s the best.”

“I just said hi this morning with her,” Li continued. “So I hope we can do something on the court, and I hope we can build something together.”

English is the WNBA veteran’s second language, so there could be some kind of barrier here. Still, it’s not often that you’ll hear one professional athlete refer to another as “cute.”

The 6-foot-7 center is mostly just excited to get back on the court.

“I don’t feel I have enough time on the court,” Li explained last week. “I came here only to play the game. I’m really happy and appreciative because I know many teammates, I’ve made many new friends and know many different staff, coach. These really let me feel happy, and I’m so glad for that, but playing is one of the important things for me.”

“I just want to play,” Li added. “I came to America only for one reason — just that I want to play basketball.”

The Dallas Wings are 1-11 on the season and certainly in need of a major spark.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’