Paige Bueckers to Star, Exec-Produce Jess & Pearl

Paige Bueckers, the 24-year-old Dallas Wings guard, 2025 No. 1 WNBA draft pick and 2025 Rookie of the Year, has been cast to star in and will executive-produce Jess & Pearl, a sports drama being developed by Apple Original Films. The film, based on an original idea by Scandal writer Zahir McGhee, follows two women’s basketball phenoms whose close friendship unravels into a rivalry amid fame, competition and the business of college athletics. Producers attached include David Bernad (Middle Child Pictures), Lindsay Kagawa Colas and Tommy Alter. Bueckers joins the project after a decorated UConn career that culminated in the 2025 national championship and a standout rookie WNBA season (about 19.2 points and 5.4 assists per game). No official release date for Jess & Pearl has been announced. The move continues a recent trend of current and former WNBA players appearing in film and television.