The next chapter in the basketball journey of Paige Bueckers has officially begun. On Monday, she was the first pick in the 2025 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft, chosen by the Dallas Wings merely a week after finishing a spectacular championship season with the UConn Huskies.
At just 23, Bueckers was widely believed to be the top draft contender, a prediction she confirmed by announcing her decision to enter the draft during the third round of the NCAA tournament. Her four years at UConn were filled with impressive statistics. She managed to maintain an average score of 19.8 points, accompanied by 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals. She marked her performance with a commendable 42% in 3-point shooting.
Throughout the NCAA tournament, Bueckers’ performance showcased her top-tier talent. She increased her scoring to a remarkable average of 24.8 points per match, while simultaneously improving her 3-point shooting rate to 48%. In one unforgettable instance during the Sweet 16 round against Oklahoma, she set a new personal record by scoring a whopping 40 points, with 29 achieved within the second half of the game, and knocked down 6 of 8 long-range shots.
Midway through January, Bueckers broke yet another record, becoming the quickest player in UConn’s history to reach 2,000 points in her career. She surpassed this milestone in only 102 games, beating Maya Moore—a revered Hall of Famer—who had previously achieved this after 108 games.
Bueckers not only excelled in scoring but also joined rare company by recording 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals during her UConn career. In doing so, she placed herself in a prestigious group, joining Moore and Breanna Stewart as the only players to have accomplished this grand feat.
Throughout her five-year term with the UConn Huskies, Bueckers, a three-time All-American, prominently featured during four seasons. Although her career was interrupted by injuries, she demonstrated extraordinary resilience and resolve. After being honored as the Naismith national player of the year as a freshman, adversity struck the following year.
Her second season saw a series of health-related setbacks. A severe fracture in her tibia caused her to miss as many as 19 matches. Then, the entire 2022-23 season was abruptly ended for Bueckers due to a damaging ACL tear. Even in her most recent season, she had to sit out two matches because of a sprained knee.
Despite her physical setbacks, rumors were swirling that Bueckers might postpone her debut in the WNBA, as discussions were ongoing between the league and players association to formulate a new collective bargaining agreement. In this speculative scenario, Bueckers was thought to possibly join the Unrivaled 3×3 women’s basketball league to secure a professional income while possible improved rookie terms were finalized.
In an unforeseen move, Bueckers formalized a three-year contract with the Unrivaled league. The conditions of the agreement guaranteed her an income significantly higher than her WNBA rookie contract. All Unrivaled players are given a share from an $8 million pool, which results in an average salary of $222,000—a noteworthy amount compared to the WNBA’s average player income of $125,000.
When looking at these figures in detail, a first-year player in the WNBA earns approximately $78,831 under the current terms of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In contrast, Bueckers’ income from Unrivaled would steadily increase each year, summing up to a hefty total of $348,198 across four seasons.
The Dallas Wings were able to secure Bueckers as the top pick in the WNBA draft lottery. This selection came after a less than stellar season for the Wings—they ended the season with the second-worst record in the league, holding a mere 9 wins against 31 losses.
Leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale, who averaged 22.9 points per game, is slated to return for the upcoming season. However, Dallas faced a significant loss with the departure of Satou Sabally, who expressed a wish to play for a different team, and consequently, was traded to the Phoenix Mercury.
As part of Sabally’s trade deal, DiJonai Carrington was welcomed to the Wings, adding a fresh face to their roster. This league decision eventually unfolded into a multi-team transaction involving a total of four WNBA teams.
Overall, the acquisition of Bueckers by the Dallas Wings is seen as a strong move for the team. Her exceptional performance in college has made her a strong contender for future WNBA seasons.
The young star’s remarkable collegiate career, coupled with her evident resilience in the face of injury, demonstrates a promising potential for greatness in the professional league. Bueckers is expected to bring her talent, determination, and scoring power to make a significant impact on the WNBA court.
As Bueckers makes this stride into her professional career, she carries with her the weight of her potential, the lessons of her past, and the expectations of countless fans. The basketball world eagerly awaits to see how she will navigate the challenges and triumphs of the WNBA.