Just a week ago, Paige Bueckers was atop the college basketball world celebrating an NCAA Tournament title at a rally in Storrs, Conn.
On Monday night, Bueckers took her next step and entered the WNBA as the No. 1 overall selection.
The Dallas Wings had the UConn star in their sights the second the team won the draft lottery back in November. And Monday’s selection was essentially a lock after Bueckers declared for the draft weeks ago after a months-long period of uncertainty.
The uncertainty is now over.
Dallas’ top selection in 2025 adds Bueckers to the illustrious list of former Huskies that’ve been picked No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft. UConn ranks first among colleges producing No. 1 picks — Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010), Maya Moore (2011), Breanna Stewart (2016) and Bueckers (2025).
South Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford and Tennessee hold a four-way tie for second place on the list.
Along with with being the first pick in the 2025 draft, Bueckers is also the first pick by Dallas’ revamped staff that’s tasked with getting the team back into the postseason. Following a dreadful 9-31 campaign in 2024, the team decided to fire Latricia Trammell and rehire in place of Greg Bibb, the current Wings President and ex-general manager.
Bueckers will now play under head coach Chris Koclanes and general manager Curt Miller, who coached the Los Angles Sparks for the past two seasons.
Bueckers, who averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals in her final collegiate season, could start the season alongside four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale in the backcourt. Offseason pickups DiJonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris will likely battle for a starting guard spot throughout training camp.
Wherever Bueckers lands on the depth chart, the Wings hope to get the elite shooting efficiency she showcased in her final collegiate season with the Huskies: 53.4% from the field, 41.9% from deep and 88.9% from the free throw line.
Those numbers helped the Huskies into the NCAA Tournament, where they eventually defeated South Carolina, 82-59, in the championship game. Bueckers scored 17 points in the matchup. The title was the only accolade missing from her historic UConn career, which includes a Naismith award, a Wooden award, an AP Player of the Year Award, four NCAA All-Tourney team selections and four NCAA All-Region team selections.
She finished third overall in total points scored (2,439) as a Husky behind Hall of Famer Moore (3,036) and future Hall of Famer Stewart (2676).
Now, Bueckers hopes to write her name into the WNBA records.
