Paige Bueckers is officially heading to Texas as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft , taken by the Dallas Wings on April 14 in New York City. The former UConn Huskies standout wrapped up her college career with a national championship and now takes her talents to the pros with high hopes and an even higher level of gratitude.
Paige Bueckers shared her feelings after being picked as first overall by the Dallas Wings
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called her name, and it was more than special for the 23-year-old. Bueckers broke into tears on live television while hugging her teammate Azzi Fudd, head coach Geno Auriemma, and her parents, Amy Fuller and Bob Bueckers. “It takes a village,” she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “An overwhelming sense of gratitude.”
"It's super surreal just being here with other draft invitees. I've been focusing on staying present, staying where my feet are and to be here right now, I'm extremely blessed," she added.
After bursting onto the national scene as a freshman by winning AP Player of the Year, Bueckers’ college path was far from smooth. A devastating ACL injury sidelined her for a full season, but she came back stronger, leading UConn to its 12th national title.
"It was a journey of resilience, of overcoming adversity," Bueckers reflected ahead of the draft. "I wouldn’t trade it for the world just because it became such a beautiful story… of keeping the faith, of working extremely hard, and I really wouldn’t trade it."
Despite the draft’s high stakes, Bueckers kept her emotions grounded throughout the evening. “You don’t ever wanna assume anything in life,” she said. “Nothing is guaranteed.”
The Dallas Wings have only had two winning seasons in the last 15 years, but they now pin their hopes on Bueckers, alongside four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale. Training camp begins April 27, with the season opener set for May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx.
"I'm pretty excited to be there," Bueckers said of her new home. "I've only heard good things about the city. So excited to start that new chapter and explore that, give everything I have to the Wings organization."
Off the court, Bueckers is already signed with the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league and is set to earn more than her rookie WNBA salary. The NIL deal, combined with endorsements from Nike, Gatorade, and Verizon, positions her as one of the most marketable stars in the league today.
Further, she credits her teammates and family, saying, “They mean everything to me… The love is unconditional. I wanna cherish that relationship for the rest of my life.” She also noted how her younger siblings, who stay removed from the basketball limelight, bring her joy: “They just are my little siblings. They just bring me a whole bunch of joy.”
Also Read: “I love it” — Hailey Van Lith breaks silence on boyfriend Jalen Suggs’ moment with her dad during March Madness
Bueckers’ basketball journey is getting started with fans expecting the best from the star in the Wings.
Paige Bueckers shared her feelings after being picked as first overall by the Dallas Wings
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called her name, and it was more than special for the 23-year-old. Bueckers broke into tears on live television while hugging her teammate Azzi Fudd, head coach Geno Auriemma, and her parents, Amy Fuller and Bob Bueckers. “It takes a village,” she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “An overwhelming sense of gratitude.”
Paige Bueckers is heading to Dallas as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by @StateFarm! pic.twitter.com/uC9FTmjMXA
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2025
"It's super surreal just being here with other draft invitees. I've been focusing on staying present, staying where my feet are and to be here right now, I'm extremely blessed," she added.
After bursting onto the national scene as a freshman by winning AP Player of the Year, Bueckers’ college path was far from smooth. A devastating ACL injury sidelined her for a full season, but she came back stronger, leading UConn to its 12th national title.
WELCOME TO THE DALLAS WINGS, PAIGE BUECKERS 🌟 pic.twitter.com/pREGdvalky
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 14, 2025
"It was a journey of resilience, of overcoming adversity," Bueckers reflected ahead of the draft. "I wouldn’t trade it for the world just because it became such a beautiful story… of keeping the faith, of working extremely hard, and I really wouldn’t trade it."
Despite the draft’s high stakes, Bueckers kept her emotions grounded throughout the evening. “You don’t ever wanna assume anything in life,” she said. “Nothing is guaranteed.”
The Dallas Wings have only had two winning seasons in the last 15 years, but they now pin their hopes on Bueckers, alongside four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale. Training camp begins April 27, with the season opener set for May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx.
Paige Bueckers has entered the chat 🤩#WNBADraft Orange Carpet presented by @Coach pic.twitter.com/GJeBhd4K5U
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2025
"I'm pretty excited to be there," Bueckers said of her new home. "I've only heard good things about the city. So excited to start that new chapter and explore that, give everything I have to the Wings organization."
Off the court, Bueckers is already signed with the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league and is set to earn more than her rookie WNBA salary. The NIL deal, combined with endorsements from Nike, Gatorade, and Verizon, positions her as one of the most marketable stars in the league today.
Further, she credits her teammates and family, saying, “They mean everything to me… The love is unconditional. I wanna cherish that relationship for the rest of my life.” She also noted how her younger siblings, who stay removed from the basketball limelight, bring her joy: “They just are my little siblings. They just bring me a whole bunch of joy.”
Also Read: “I love it” — Hailey Van Lith breaks silence on boyfriend Jalen Suggs’ moment with her dad during March Madness
Bueckers’ basketball journey is getting started with fans expecting the best from the star in the Wings.
You may also like
ED charge sheet against Sonia, Rahul another example of vindictive politics, says CM Siddaramaiah
How Donald Trump rebranded self-deportation he once called 'mean'
Monsoon 2025 Forecast: India to Receive Above-Normal Rainfall from June to September, Says IMD
FSSAI: Opportunity to get FSSAI job, salary more than 2 lakhs, age limit 56 years..
Elon Musk, his kids and their mothers: Inside the billionaire's bid to build a 'legion' of babies
