WNBA star Paige Bueckers became the subject of a viral moment again, this time as a spectator at an NBA playoff game.  She was spotted on court after the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 on May 30, 2026, but a playful interaction with a friend turned everyone’s head.

On May 31, 2026, X user @sacbabi posted a video capturing an emotional postgame moment between Bueckers and Stephon Castle just moments after the Spurs secured the Western Conference Finals win to punch their ticket to the finals. 

During a tight hug, Castle noticed the Oklahoma City jersey hanging from Bueckers' waist. Without hesitation, he pulled the shirt away and tossed it straight to the floor. Bueckers was just left laughing and smiling during the entire scene. 

Many were left wondering why she was carrying a Thunder jersey while cheering for a Spurs player. Bueckers shares a longtime, close friendship with Thunder center Chet Holmgren. Bueckers' longtime friendship with Holmgren made supporting the Thunder a priority despite Castle's Spurs.

Bueckers and Holmgren both grew up in Minnesota and have supported each other since their high school basketball days. She attended Game 7 to support her close friends on both competing rosters.

Castle and Bueckers share a UConn connection from their college playing days. Their friendship formed around the Huskies basketball program. 

After the game, Bueckers acknowledged the wholesome interaction. She reposted the viral video of the hug to her Instagram story and added a simple caption, writing, "Proud of you 5," with a black heart emoji. The ‘5’ refers to Castle's jersey number. 

This courtside moment also shows a unique bond they both share.

The Connection Behind Paige Bueckers and Stephon Castle's Friendship 

The two were standouts for the Huskies during their time at UConn. Even after moving on to different professional leagues, their mutual support has remained visible. 

The two stars share a unique career milestone. Bueckers and Castle each earned Rookie of the Year awards in their respective leagues for the 2025 season.

They made history by becoming the first pair from the same college program to achieve that feat in the same period. 

The Dallas guard is continuing her strong professional start. She is averaging 19.4 points per game in her second WNBA season. 

A recent WNBA GM Survey revealed that she received the highest vote share, 33%, when executives were asked which player they would choose to build a new franchise around. Both Bueckers and Castle are expected to be franchise cornerstones in the future.

Drop a reply below and tell us which friendship in the sports world is your absolute favorite!

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Surjo Ray