The Dallas Wings have chosen Paige Bueckers as the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft. This former UConn standout aims to bring her winning energy from the Huskies to her new team and make a difference.
The WNBA Draft took place on April 14 at the Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, where talented college and international players gathered in anticipation. They eagerly awaited to hear commissioner Cathy Engelbert announce their names.
There wasn’t an audible gasp in the room as most expected the dynamic Huskie to be on top of the heap come draft night.
Instead, the cheers broke out after much anticipation as her mother Amy Dettbarn and UConn coach Geno Auriemma broke into tears.
Upon getting drafted, Bueckers praised her teammates for their role in her journey.
‘They are incredibly important to me,’ Bueckers expressed. ‘They have supported me through thick and thin, through all the challenges and successes. Their love has been unwavering, seeing every part of who I am.’
‘I’m forever grateful for them,’ Bueckers added. ‘I wanna cherish that relationship for the rest of my life.’
Paige Bueckers has been selected No. 1 in the WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings
Bueckers poses with a ball next to Ajsa Sivka (L), Sania Feagin (2nd R) and Giorgia Amoore (R) at the 2025 WNBA Draft
Bueckers, who has been in the spotlight since her high school days in Minnesota, burst onto the scene in college by winning AP Player of the Year as a freshman.
She struggled with injuries – including a torn ACL tear – over the next two years but returned to form over the last two seasons for the Huskies before her moment in the WNBA’s spotlight on Monday.
‘It was a journey of resilience, of overcoming adversity,’ she said ahead of the Draft.
‘I wouldn´t trade it for the world just because it became such a beautiful story and a remarkable journey of ups and downs, highs and lows, of keeping the faith, of working extremely hard, and I really wouldn´t trade it.’
As one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball, Bueckers has deals with major sponsors like Nike, Gatorade, Verizon and Dunkin´ Donuts, and has had a hectic week-plus since UConn trounced South Carolina in the title game.
She’s been going back and forth between Connecticut and New York doing morning and night time talk show appearances, including stopping by ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ and interrupting his monologue to let him hold the national championship trophy on Wednesday night.
Later in the week, she came back to New York for WNBA rookie orientation before finally going back to Connecticut for a parade to celebrate the school’s 12th NCAA title they won in Tampa, Florida.
Bueckers has a quick turnaround ahead of the WNBA season, which will begin on May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx.
Wings training camp will begin on April 27.
The team has just two winning seasons in the last 15 years, a figure mark which they’ll hope Bueckers can improve with the help of four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale.
Bueckers landing with the Wings came after she signed a three-year deal with the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league, which debuted this winter.
Bueckers celebrates with a piece of the net after winning the national championship
Bueckers visited the Empire State Building earlier in the day on Monday before the Draft
The star guard had a NIL deal with the league in its inaugural year that gave her equity in the league.
Now, she is set to suit up over 10 weeks in 2026, and will be notably be paid far more than her WNBA salary.
While Bueckers will earn around $80,000 in her first WNBA season due to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the average salary for Unrivaled this year was more than $220,000.
WNBA players have opted out of the league’s current CBA, which is now set to expire this fall.
