Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, one week after leading UConn to a national championship.
Paige Bueckers begins her professional basketball journey as the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings selected the UConn guard first overall on Monday, shortly after her standout NCAA tournament performance helped the Huskies secure a national title.
The 23-year-old averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals across four college seasons. Her tournament play was even more impressive, with 24.8 points per game and 48% shooting from beyond the arc. She scored a career-high 40 points in UConn’s Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma.
Bueckers became the fastest player in UConn history to reach 2,000 points, accomplishing the feat in 102 games—six fewer than Maya Moore. She joined Moore and Breanna Stewart as the only Huskies to compile 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals.
Despite missing time due to multiple injuries—including a fractured tibia and a torn ACL—Bueckers returned strong and was named a three-time All-American.
There had been speculation that Bueckers might delay her WNBA debut due to ongoing CBA negotiations. Instead, she will split her professional career between the WNBA and Unrivaled, a 3×3 league offering higher pay. Her three-year Unrivaled deal reportedly exceeds her rookie WNBA salary.
The Wings earned the top pick after finishing with a 9-31 record in 2024. While leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale remains, the team lost Satou Sabally via trade and added DiJonai Carrington in a multi-team deal.
With Bueckers on board, Dallas aims to rebuild around a dynamic backcourt that could redefine its future.
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