Paige Bueckers has been selected No. 1 overall in the WNBADraft by the Dallas Wings, as the former UConn star will now look to revitalize her new franchise after winning the women’s national championship with the Huskies.
On Monday, April 14, the top college and international prospects gathered at the Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, waiting and hoping to get their name called by commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
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.
While most expected her name to be called first, Bueckers remained level-headed throughout the process. Beaming with confidence, she insisted that ‘You don’t ever wanna assume anything in life.’
‘Nothing is guaranteed. So for this moment to be here, and for it to happen. [It’s] nerve-wracking, you feel excitement, nervousness, bittersweet feeling that my journey at UConn is over but excited for the next one to begin.’
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
Upon getting drafted, Bueckers praised her teammates for their role in her journey.
‘They mean everything to me,’ she said. ‘All that they helped me get through. The ups and downs, the highs and lows. They’ve seen every side of me and the love is unconditional.’
‘I’m forever grateful for them,’ Bueckers added. ‘I wanna cherish that relationship for the rest of my life.’
Bueckers, who has been in the spotlight since her high school days inMinnesota, 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.
Bueckers insisted ‘nothing is guaranteed’ after getting selected with the first overall pick
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.
‘I’m pretty excited to be there,’ Bueckers said about Dallas. ‘I’ve only heard good things about the city. [I’m] so excited to start that new chapter and explore that, give everything I have to the Wings organization.’
‘I know we’re gonna do great things and its’s a fresh start,’ she continued. ‘I think we’re all ready to start.’
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.
Upon her entry, Bueckers joins elite UConn company in the WNBA, including Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
However, she remained keen on playing against her former teammates in the pro ranks.
‘All of my former teammates that I used to play with,’ Bueckers said when asked who she looks forward to playing against. ‘Nika [Muhl], Aaliyah [Edwards], few others. Few others but those are the ones I’m most excited about.’