Just a little over a week after winning her programs 12th National Championship title, Paige Bueckers was drafted No. 1 overall last night to the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.
“You don’t ever want to assume anything in life and nothing is guaranteed, and so for this moment, to be here, and it actually happened, it’s nerve wracking,” Bueckers said to the media after being picked. “You just have a level of excitement, nervousness. [It’s] a bittersweet feeling knowing that my journey at UConn is over, but [I’m] excited for the next one to begin.”
Back in November, when the Wings won the first overall pick in the draft lottery, it was a no-brainer that they would select Bueckers, as their only pick in the first round.
Bueckers, a point guard, will fill a much-needed void for the Wings and has the potential to be the face of the franchise for years to come. Bueckers finished her red shirt senior season averaging close to 20 points per game and a field goal percentage of 53.4%.
Bueckers will bring a sense of new blood for the Wings, who have a bit of a shuffled roster this year and a brand-new general manager and new head coaches and assistant coaches. Bueckers described to the media that although her conversations with the Wing’s organization were brief, she’s embracing the change.
“We’re excited for the new fresh start.” Bueckers said, “It’s not a rebuild, it’s just a build from where we are […] we’re excited for the future and we only think the best is ahead.”
Fans may remember the guard’s world tour last summer, but even more so this season Bueckers is having a world tour of her own after traveling to Storrs, Spokane and Tampa for March Madness and then to New York City, Hartford than back to New York City again from the draft.
However, the Minnesota native is not even done there. Training camp for the WNBA begins on April 27 and the season will officially begin on May 16. Then, after the WNBA season, Bueckers will participate in the Unrivaled League, after signing a deal earlier this week. Although, even with all the travel Bueckers is embracing these once in a lifetime experiences.
“I’m glad New York and Storrs are pretty close to each other, because it’s been a lot of back and forth,” Bueckers joked to the media. “I’m running on grateful fumes and wouldn’t trade it for anything, the life that I’m living.”
There’s no doubt in Husky fans’ minds about the impact Bueckers had during her tenure in the Basketball Capital of the World. And not only did Bueckers make an impact on her fans, she also made an impact on her teammates as well. The whole 2024-2025 National Championship team attended the draft, including Bueckers’ old teammates Nika Mühl and Aaliyah Edwards.
“It just feels like a full circle moment,” Mühl said in a TikTok with the WNBA, “Even if she [Bueckers] wasn’t here last year, I would still be here supporting her and that’s my sister and it’s so cool to see her dreams come true.”
All in all, 2025 has been Paige Bueckers’ year and this is only the beginning for the new rookie.
“She’s [Bueckers] one of those kids that gets a lot given to her and she earns all of it, but everything that she gets, there’s not one thing that she gets that she doesn’t share with her teammates, her support staff,” Head coach of the UConn women’s basketball program said on the ESPN broadcast, “She’s just one of those kids that’s more giving. She gets a lot, but she gives a lot back.”
Hi Avery! Incredible job reporting on the Women’s Basketball team this year!! Your articles are some of my favorites to read.