Paige Bueckers Reportedly Denied Of 'Preferred' WNBA Team

11/18/2024 06:11 AM

The 2025 WNBA Draft order is now set, with the Dallas Wings winning the No. 1 overall pick. The Los Angeles Sparks will select at No. 2, while the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics will draft at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.

That being said, the Wings are now in a position to take Paige Bueckers, who is widely considered to be the best player in the upcoming class.

While that is good news for the Wings, who are looking to return to playoff contention after struggling in the 2024 season, it's not so much for Bueckers—at least not if the recent report about her preferred destination is true.

According to Michael Voepel of ESPN, Bueckers would have "preferred" to land in Los Angeles. The Sparks actually had the best odds for the No. 1 pick after finishing the past season with the worst record (8-32); unfortunately, lady luck didn't smile in their favor during the lottery.

That means the UConn superstar is likely heading to Dallas, barring any trade of picks or a change in the current prospect rankings.

"Sources around the league have indicated that the Los Angeles Sparks, who got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, would have been Bueckers' preferred option," Voepel explained.

"Like the Wings, the Sparks also currently don't have a head coach. But Los Angeles is a gigantic market and a team that could also have used a guard like Bueckers."

It remains to be seen what the Wings will do with their pick and whether or not the Sparks will make a move for Paige Bueckers, knowing her interest in the team. With the 2025 WNBA Draft scheduled for April 14, 2025, though, there are still a lot of things that could change.

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