Lastly, the star UConn guard made her determination.
Paige Bueckers, the presumptive No. 1 total decide in subsequent month’s WNBA Draft, advised ESPN about her plans to forgo her last 12 months of collegiate eligibility and enter the draft.
The affirmation makes her arrival to the Dallas Wings, who personal the primary decide, a close to certainty.
As Buckers led the Huskies to a 31-3 regular-season document and into the NCAA Event as No. 2 seed within the Spokane area, rumors swirled in regards to the guard’s upcoming plans.
With Bueckers having one 12 months of eligibility remaining, she may’ve returned to UConn like her teammate Azzi Fudd did. Fudd introduced the transfer in a social media publish Tuesday.
The WNBA’s potential new collective bargaining settlement, which might come into impact for the 2026 season, gave Bueckers and different prospects incentive to take a seat out the 2025 season in hopes for a extra profitable wage upon arrival to the league.
Sitting out the 2025 WNBA season and taking part in Unequalled, the brand new winter 3-on-3 league, may’ve additionally been an possibility for Bueckers.
As a substitute, Bueckers is probably going headed to Dallas to type a dynamic backcourt alongside four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, who averaged 22.2 factors and 5.1 assists per recreation in 38 video games in 2024.
In her last collegiate season, Bueckers is averaging 19.2 factors, 4.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists per recreation whereas proudly owning 54.2/41.1/90.2 capturing splits.
She and the Huskies are at present within the Large Dance vying for an NCAA Event title. A title could be Bueckers’ first NCAA championship.
The Huskies might be again in motion towards No. 3 seeded Oklahoma on Saturday at Spokane Area.
