The WNBA welcomed a new era on Monday night as the Dallas Wings made a franchise-defining move by selecting University of Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The selection comes just a week after Bueckers capped off her collegiate journey with a national championship win, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear a Huskies uniform.
At 23, Bueckers enters the professional ranks with a resume as polished as her game. A dynamic playmaker and prolific scorer, she became the clear-cut favorite for the top selection well before draft night. Her announcement to declare for the draft during the NCAA Tournament’s third round only solidified what many had anticipated since her sensational freshman year.
Across four standout seasons (in five years) at UConn, Bueckers posted career averages of 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, while connecting on 42% of her attempts from beyond the arc. Her performance during the 2025 NCAA Tournament, however, elevated her to another level. She averaged 24.8 points per game in the postseason, including a signature 40-point outburst in the Sweet 16 against Oklahoma — with 29 of those points coming in the second half.
In January, Bueckers etched her name into UConn history books once again by becoming the fastest player in program history to surpass 2,000 career points, achieving the milestone in just 102 games — quicker than Husky legends Maya Moore (108 games) and Breanna Stewart. She also joined Moore and Stewart as the only UConn players to record 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals.
Despite battling injuries throughout her college career, including a fractured tibia and a torn ACL that sidelined her for an entire season, Bueckers rebounded with resilience. Her leadership, elite court vision, and scoring versatility have made her not just a college standout, but one of the most anticipated WNBA prospects in recent memory.
There was early speculation Bueckers might delay her jump to the WNBA as players continue to push for improved compensation in the next collective bargaining agreement. However, she chose to pursue both paths: joining the WNBA and also signing a three-year deal with the 3×3 women’s pro league Unrivaled, a new initiative designed to provide players higher earning opportunities in the U.S. offseason. That contract is reportedly more lucrative than her rookie WNBA deal.
Unrivaled, formed as an alternative to playing overseas, offers an average salary of $222,000 per player. Bueckers’ rookie contract with the Wings, by contrast, begins at $78,831 annually under the current CBA, with her four-year deal totaling approximately $348,000. Her ability to secure both deals positions her as a trailblazer not only on the court, but in shaping the financial future of the women’s game.
The Dallas Wings, who earned the No. 1 pick after finishing 9-31 last season, are building around star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who averaged 22.9 points per game in 2024. The team underwent a roster shake-up in the offseason, parting ways with All-Star forward Satou Sabally, who requested a trade and was dealt to the Phoenix Mercury. In return, Dallas acquired DiJonai Carrington in a blockbuster four-team trade, signaling a bold new direction for the franchise.
With Bueckers now in the fold, the Wings have a generational talent to lead their rebuild and energize a fanbase hungry for success. The future of the Dallas Wings — and the WNBA — just got a lot brighter.
