Only a week in the past, Paige Bueckers was atop the faculty basketball world celebrating an NCAA Event title at a rally in Storrs, Conn.
On Monday night time, Bueckers took her subsequent step and entered the WNBA because the No. 1 general choice.
The Dallas Wings had the UConn star of their sights the second the workforce received the draft lottery again in November. And Monday’s choice was basically a lock after Bueckers declared for the draft weeks in the past after a months-long interval of uncertainty.
The uncertainty is now over.
Dallas’ high choice in 2025 provides Bueckers to the illustrious checklist of former Huskies that’ve been picked No. 1 general within the WNBA Draft. UConn ranks first amongst schools producing No. 1 picks — Sue Hen (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010), Maya Moore (2011), Breanna Stewart (2016) and Bueckers (2025).
South Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford and Tennessee maintain a four-way tie for second place on the checklist.
Bueckers will now play beneath head coach Chris Koclanes and basic supervisor Curt Miller, who coached the Los Angles Sparks for the previous two seasons.
Bueckers, who averaged 19.9 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and a pair of.1 steals in her closing collegiate season, might begin the season alongside four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale within the backcourt. Offseason pickups DiJonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris will doubtless battle for a beginning guard spot all through coaching camp.
Wherever Bueckers lands on the depth chart, the Wings hope to get the elite capturing effectivity she showcased in her closing collegiate season with the Huskies: 53.4% from the sphere, 41.9% from deep and 88.9% from the free throw line.
These numbers helped the Huskies into the NCAA Event, the place they ultimately defeated South Carolina, 82-59, within the championship sport. Bueckers scored 17 factors within the matchup. The title was the one accolade lacking from her historic UConn profession, which features a Naismith award, a Picket award, an AP Participant of the Yr Award, 4 NCAA All-Tourney workforce choices and 4 NCAA All-Area workforce choices.
She completed third general in complete factors scored (2,439) as a Husky behind Corridor of Famer Moore (3,036) and future Corridor of Famer Stewart (2676).
Now, Bueckers hopes to put in writing her title into the WNBA data.
