BREAKING NEWS: WNBA Officially Verifies Paige Bueckers as…
NEW YORK, NY — In what will be remembered as a defining moment in the history of women’s basketball, Paige Bueckers has officially been verified as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. The announcement was made during a star-studded event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, where hundreds of fans, celebrities, and basketball legends gathered to witness the latest class of talent ushered into the professional ranks.
The selection confirms what many basketball analysts and fans have long anticipated: that Bueckers is not just a generational player, but one poised to become a transformative figure for the WNBA. As her name was announced, an emotional Bueckers took to the stage dressed in a tailored black suit, hugged her family and former teammates, and expressed gratitude to everyone who helped her reach the pinnacle of her basketball journey.
“I’m overwhelmed, in the best way,” Bueckers said during her first interview as a WNBA player. “I’ve been dreaming of this night for as long as I can remember. There were days I wasn’t sure I’d make it here, but I kept my faith, leaned on my people, and never stopped working. This is just the beginning.”
From College Stardom to the WNBA Spotlight
Bueckers’ path to the WNBA has been nothing short of historic. The Minnesota native burst onto the college scene in 2020 as a freshman at UConn, quickly becoming the face of the Huskies and a household name across the nation. That season, she won the Naismith Trophy, AP Player of the Year, and was a unanimous first-team All-American — the first freshman in NCAA history to sweep the sport’s top honors.
Yet her journey was not without obstacles. In 2022, she suffered a devastating ACL tear that sidelined her for the entire 2022–23 season. Some questioned if she’d ever return to form. But Bueckers used the setback as fuel, coming back stronger than ever to lead UConn to a 2025 national championship — their 12th overall — in a storybook senior season.
She closed out her college career averaging 20.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, and she finishes among UConn’s all-time leaders in scoring and assists despite missing over a season of action due to injury.
“A New Era” in Dallas
Now officially part of the Dallas Wings, Bueckers is expected to be the cornerstone of a young team looking to rise in the ranks of the WNBA. She was formally introduced in Dallas at a press event held at City Hall, where she charmed fans and media alike by donning a custom cowboy hat and emphasizing her excitement to join the Wings’ rebuild.
“There’s something special happening in Dallas,” she said. “This team is young, hungry, and ready to build a dynasty. I’m here to lead, to learn, and to leave a legacy.”
Wings general manager Greg Bibb called Bueckers “a once-in-a-decade talent,” adding, “She changes the way the game is played. Her vision, her composure, her scoring ability — she’s going to elevate this team from day one.”
Contract, Endorsements, and the Business of Basketball
Bueckers will enter the league under the WNBA’s rookie scale contract, which will pay her $348,198 over four years, starting at approximately $78,831 in year one and rising each year. But her earnings go far beyond her league salary.
Thanks to her enormous social media following, marketability, and on-court accomplishments, Bueckers has already built one of the strongest personal brands in women’s sports. She’s secured multimillion-dollar endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, Crocs, and StockX, among others. According to sports marketing experts, her total annual income could eclipse $1 million in her rookie year — a figure virtually unheard of in the WNBA a decade ago.
She also signed a three-year deal with the emerging 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, which was co-founded by fellow WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The league, which offers higher pay in a condensed season format, will reportedly pay Bueckers more than $350,000 for 10 weeks of competition.
The Bueckers Effect
Bueckers’ arrival in the WNBA coincides with a boom in interest for women’s sports. The 2025 WNBA Draft drew a record 1.25 million viewers, surpassing the television audience of the MLB and NHL drafts. Her influence, alongside stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and JuJu Watkins, is ushering in a new golden era for the women’s game.
“She’s not just a player — she’s a movement,” said ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo. “Paige has the charisma, the game, and the mentality to be the face of the league for years to come.”
With training camp on the horizon and the WNBA season tipping off in just a few weeks, all eyes will be on Paige Bueckers. Her debut in a Wings uniform is already one of the most anticipated moments of the season, and her journey from UConn phenom to WNBA star is just beginning.
One thing is clear: Paige Bueckers has officially arrived.
