From the looks on their faces, there’s nothing like hitting it big! This wasn’t a case of someone winning the top prize in the state lottery. Instead, this was seeing the fruits of their labor in having Rory McIlroy and Paige Bueckers hit the jackpot in the #1 spot of their pro game.

For Bueckers it was in becoming the #1 selection in the 2025 WNBA draft class. This was widely expected in sports circles but still felt like a surreal moment when it happened. She became the sixth UConn women’s basketball player to go #1 in the draft. And we know how some have made history since.

With McIlroy, the journey from the first hole to the 18^th hole is filled with potential bunker stops, water drops and putting flops. He’s been at it for 17 years at the Masters tournament without landing the green jacket. Plus, it took 11 years of chasing the career grand slam win that now puts him in rare company.

Leading up to the Masters, McIlroy had to contend with the ‘ghosts’ of the past. So, he did a one-on-one session with golf great Jack Nicklaus which seemed to help him purge those memories. Both McIlroy and Bueckers have had tough times and disappointments, but turned setbacks into comebacks through:

• Teamwork:- In order to be awesome, you’ll end up spelling ‘we’ before spelling ‘me’. Her coach says while her passion for the game gets a lot of attention, she spreads it to others too.
• Dreamwork:- As the saying goes, “teamwork makes the dream work.” When asked what helped her persist, Bueckers say she feels a sense of purpose in her game that carries over to her fame.   
• Homework:- During setbacks, we can complain about lemons or turn moments into lemonade. This took patience for McIlroy doing what others don’t see, to produce results others would see.
• Life’s Work:- There’re things we do to raise our skillset and career mindset. But room for growth came with positivity and self-development that’s sure to take them beyond their fields of dreams.   

Things are just getting started as a pro for Bueckers. She’s already got an NIL deal from her college days that’s sure to translate to a bigger bag. Word is that she’s signed a deal with the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled league that will have her making more dough in one year than she’ll make in a 4-year WNBA span.  

The golf season is still early, so McIlroy could turn his green jack into Irish green cash flow. Sometimes luck of the draw might be on one’s side. Along the way you might win some and lose some, but rest in knowing things will be alright. This year for McIlroy and Bueckers might feel like they can have it all.

Talkback: Does Bueckers have the goods for bringing a new level of buzz to women’s pro basketball?

Tip: In life you go from ‘grab bag to bigger bag’ by how you turn moments of doubt to new rounds of clout.

Tracks: Josh Grobin – Be Alright – https://youtu.be/nwEDG_rOI6Y?si=BkGpVxbiJHZr0HD1

Maoli – You Can Have it All – https://youtu.be/YEXzSrkRTTI?si=sG5Vr-_-pJkmYjqj