The 2025 WNBA Draft started simply how everybody anticipated, as UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers was chosen first general by the Dallas Wings on Monday night time.
Final yr, it was Caitlin Clark popping out of Iowa because the consensus high choice, and the Indiana Fever made it so after they referred to as her identify. Clark went on to win the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, breaking data alongside the way in which.
Bueckers has had No. 1 decide potential since she entered UConn. Seeing it come to fruition, recent off a nationwide title run along with her sisters on the court docket, was “overwhelming” for the brand new star of the Wings.
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Paige Bueckers hugs WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being chosen with the primary general decide to the Dallas Wings within the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures)
“Simply an amazing sense of gratitude. It is tremendous surreal to be right here with different draft invitees,” Bueckers mentioned after she heard her identify referred to as.
Bueckers turning into a nationwide champion with the Huskies put a cherry on high of an excellent profession for the Hopkins, Minnesota native.
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Her senior season noticed 19.9 factors, 4.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds averaged per sport, whereas capturing 53.4% from the sphere and 41.9% from deep. Bueckers’ potential to attain anyplace on the ground, and really have Geno Auriemma’s offense run by way of her was on full show all year long, together with the NCAA Match.
Bueckers notched her fourth straight All-Match Crew nod from the NCAA for her performances when it mattered most.
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) seems to be to shoot towards UCLA through the first half of a nationwide semifinal Remaining 4 sport through the ladies’s NCAA faculty basketball match, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photograph/John Raoux)
She wasn’t capable of safe a spot within the nationwide championship sport, although, throughout her junior season, falling to Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes that yr.
However the Huskies charged all the way in which again to win it over South Carolina in dominating trend earlier this month. Bueckers was named an AP All-American for the third time in her illustrious faculty profession.
Heading into the WNBA, Bueckers’ expectations are by way of the roof, becoming a member of a workforce in Dallas that’s led by All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, who may use one other dynamic guard to work with.
Paige Bueckers poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being chosen with the primary general decide to the Dallas Wings within the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures)
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Throughout her 4 years at UConn, Bueckers averaged 19.8 factors, 4.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds and shot 53.1% from the sphere over 123 profession video games.
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