Skyler Bell Shines in NFL Preseason Debut, Bueckers, Wings Clinch Playoff Berth

SKYLER BELL SHINES IN NFL PRESEASON DEBUT

Sometimes, good things come to those who wait. 

Husky Nation had a few extra weeks of anticipation before finally getting the chance to watch Skyler Bell make his NFL preseason debut. The former UConn star wide receiver missed the Buffalo Bills’ first two preseason games with a groin injury. Once Bell finally took the field Thursday, he wasted little time making his presence felt:

Bell’s first career preseason catch went for 16 yards on the Bills’ first drive of the game. The grab set up a 33-yard field goal by Tyler Bass for the first three points of the game.

Jumping to the third quarter, Bell caught a 12-yard pass for another Bills first down. On the very next play, Bell found himself in a place UConn fans are all too familiar with:

It’s an encouraging sign to see that the Bills coaching staff is willing to get Bell the ball in a variety of ways, rather than relying solely on the passing game, but through the rushing attack as well. Bell had 13 carries for 160 yards back in 2022 with the Wisconsin Badgers, but he never recorded a rushing touchdown. During his two seasons at UConn, Bell carried the ball just twice for negative two yards. 

Bills Mafia on X was buzzing after seeing what Bell brought to the field in his debut, comparing him to former Bills superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

In four seasons with the Bills, Diggs was a Pro Bowler each year and was a bonafide number one wide receiver.

Bell was happy to be back on the field, while his first-year head coach, Joe Brady liked what he saw from his rookie:

It’s just one game, and a preseason game at that, but there’s still plenty to be excited about for Skyler Bell heading into his rookie season. 

The Bills’ next game will be Week 1 of the regular season. Buffalo will travel to the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13th. 

TRISTEN NEWTON WAIVED BY HOUSTON ROCKETS

The Houston Rockets waived Tristen Newton on Wednesday, the team announced. Newton was an All-G League First Team member last season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers after averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 30 games. The former Husky star was on a two-way deal with the Rockets, but was let go in favor of former Providence and George Washington center Rafael Castro, who signed a two-way contract on Wednesday with Houston. Newton is eligible for one more season on a two-way contract, as only players in their first three seasons are eligible for such deals. These contracts are typically given to some of a team’s top prospects who are viewed as potential future NBA players. Newton has bounced around the G League since being drafted with the 49th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, all on two-way contracts.

The back-to-back National Champion played in one NBA game this past season, in the Rockets regular season finale and he filled up the box score after scoring 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three in 12 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Make sure you turn your Huskies in the Pros notifications on to find out where Newton lands next!

PAIGE BUECKERS AND WINGS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH

For the first time in her professional career, Paige Bueckers is heading to the WNBA postseason. The Dallas Wings clinched their first playoff appearance since 2023 after defeating the Portland Fire 96-78 on Tuesday night. Bueckers rose to the occasion as she posted her third double-double of the season after scoring 22 points while dishing out 11 assists. She shot 8-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three and 3-of-3 from the foul line. The Wings are a perfect 3-0 this season when Bueckers records a double-double. Serah Williams (illness) did not play for the Fire. 

During her time in Storrs, Bueckers led the Huskies to a 31-3 postseason record, including four Big East Tournament Championships, four final fours and the 2025 National Championship. Now she will have an opportunity to cut down the nets at the pro level. Currently, the Wings sit as the eighth seed, however, the standings are a logjam, as the team trails the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces by just three games and the fifth-seeded Indiana Fever by only two. Dallas has five regular-season games remaining. The Wings will host the Connecticut Sun this Sunday before the WNBA takes a two and a half week break for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. The WNBA postseason will begin on Sunday, September 27th. The first round will consist of best-of-three series, while the semifinals and finals will be best-of-five.

The Wings franchise has won three WNBA titles, in 2003, 2006 and 2008, when the team was based in Detroit and known as the Detroit Shock. The franchise has since moved to Tulsa and has been in Dallas since the start of the 2016 team, but the team has not made it back to the finals since 2008.

TINA CHARLES HONORED PRE-GAME, EDWARDS SETS NEW CAREER-HIGH

In the Connecticut Sun’s farewell season, the home fans had plenty to cheer about Tuesday night following the Sun’s 87-81 victory over the Chicago Sky. Before the game, basketball legend Tina Charles was honored with her number 31 jersey being retired and hung up in the rafters of the Mohegan Sun Arena. Charles, who was drafted first overall by the Sun back in 2010, began and ended her WNBA career with the Sun, averaging 17.0 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting and 9.6 rebounds per game across five seasons. 

As for on the court, Aaliyah Edwards scored a career-high 26 points and recorded her first double-double of the season after pulling down 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. It marked the fourth double-double of her career, with her previous three coming during her 2024 rookie season with the Washington Mystics. Azura Stevens notched 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a pair of triples for the Sky. 

The Sky trailed by 18, 71-53, heading into the fourth quarter, and that’s when Stevens turned up her game, scoring 12 of her 18 points in the final 7:08. Chicago cut the deficit to five, 84-79, but Edwards converted a dagger layup to put the Sky away and give her a career-best 26 points.

The win improved the Sun’s home record to 7-12. They have two more home games left in Connecticut, Sunday, September 20th against the Minnesota Lynx and Thursday, September 24th versus the Toronto Tempo in their final game of the season.

GOLDEN STATE “HUSKIES” WIN 3 ROAD GAMES IN 4 DAYS 

In a 96-hour span, the Golden State Valkyries took down the Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty all on the road, an impressive stretch as teams push for playoff positioning in the final games of the regular season. All three wins were by double digits.

On Monday, the Valkyries snapped the Lynx’s six-game winning streak and held Minnesota to a  season-low field goal percentage (35.6%) and points (66) in a 80-66 victory. Naphessa Collier was held to a season-low nine points and Dorka Juhasz scored five points off the bench. Gabby Williams (15 points behind three triples) and Tiffany Hayes were both in double-figures (14 points, four assists). Kaitlyn Chen (3 points) and Kiah Stokes (2 points, nine rebounds).

48 hours later, Kaityln Chen was the only former Husky to score in double-figures in a 89-64 win against the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Then on Thursday night, the Valkyries took care of Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty 79-60. Williams and Stewart each scored 16 points, while Hayes scored 12 and Stokes and Chen each added two points.

The Valkyries (28-11) are three games back of the Lynx for the top spot in the WNBA standings.

Katie Lou Samuelson (Seattle Storm)

• WEDNESDAY: 8 points (3-7 FG, 1-4 3-FG, 1-1 FT). 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks in 25 minutes. The Storm defeated the Toronto Tempo 90-78.

Stefanie Dolson (Seattle Storm)

• WEDNESDAY: 2 points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3-FG), 5 rebounds, 2 assists in 10 minutes. The Storm took down the Toronto Tempo 90-78.

Kia Nurse (Toronto Tempo)

• WEDNESDAY: 4 points (1-7 FG, 1-7 3-FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals in 17 minutes. The Tempo lost to the Seattle Storm 90-78.

ANTHONY KAY GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST JACOB DEGROM 

For the first time in over two months, Anthony Kay allowed more than three runs in a start after throwing 4 ⅔ innings allowing six hits, four runs with two walks and four strikeouts in a White Sox 11-7 victory against the Texas Rangers. Despite the White Sox offense plating six runs in the bottom of the first and leading 8-1 after four innings, the southpaw struggled in the fifth after allowing a two-run home run to Danny Jensen and an RBI single to Ezequiel Duran to cut the Chicago lead to 8-4.

Kay’s opposition on the bump, two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, never found his rhythm after allowing a season-high eight runs with five walks in just 3 ⅔ innings.

At one point, the former 2016 first-round draft selection retired nine of 10 batters, including seven in a row between the 2nd and 4th innings. Kay, who has been stuck on nine wins (9-5) for three consecutive starts, will have to try again for his 10th win of the season this upcoming Monday against the Houston Astros.

Make sure you follow @HuskyPros/X and turn those notifications on for all the latest updates on your favorite Huskies in the Pros!

Subscribe to Storrs Central to support the UConn NIL effort and get access to the latest intel and premium content!