Paige Bueckers Appears To Have Her 2025 WNBA Draft Landing Spot
11/17/2024 05:57 PM
The 2025 WNBA Draft lottery just wrapped up, with one lucky team getting the opportunity to draft UConn star Paige Bueckers.
As of now, Bueckers is projected as the likely No. 1 overall pick in 2025. Assuming that's how things shake out, it will be the Dallas Wings who draft the dynamic guard. Dallas beat out the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky for the rights to the No. 1 spot on Sunday, setting themselves up with their pick of the litter at the top of the draft.
Through three games this season for the second-ranked Huskies, the 6-foot Bueckers is averaging 21.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while 65% from the field and 50% from three-point range. She poured in 29 points in a 69-58 win over No. 14 North Carolina on Friday.
"Bueckers' efficiency and versatility make her an excellent candidate to transition seamlessly to the pro game," writes ESPN's Michael Voepel. "Bueckers has one more year of college eligibility left because of the COVID-19 waiver from 2020-21, but she has approached this as her final season with the Huskies. Might the outcome of the lottery impact her decision? We'll wait and find out."
Voepel raises an interesting point about Bueckers having the option to return to school, and with NIL being what it is, it's not a ridiculous idea.
However, Bueckers is already 23, and she missed the entire 2022-23 season with a torn ACL, meaning she probably wants to begin her professional career as soon as possible.
After three straight playoff appearances, the Wings went 9-31 in 2024, which resulted in head coach Latricia Trammell being let go. Dallas is still looking for its next head coach, but did hire longtime WNBA coach and executive Curt Miller as its new general manager earlier this month.
The Wings are not devoid of talent either, with Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard and others on the roster.
Related: Nika Muhl Sends Heartwarming Message to Paige Bueckers
