By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
The Dallas Wings selected Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft on Monday night—a move that gives the franchise a superstar talent for years to come. Bueckers is fresh off a national championship in her final season with the UConn Huskies. During her four seasons at UConn, Bueckers overcame two serious knee injuries and averaged 19.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 42% from three-point range. Bueckers is a generational prospect and brings championship pedigree to a Wings organization that is seeking its first championship since 2008—back when the franchise was known as the Detroit Shock.
“We are extremely excited as a franchise to select Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft,” said Dallas Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Curt Miller. “The addition of Paige is another huge momentum-building moment for the Wings franchise and team. Paige is one of the most efficient and decorated players we have seen in the history of the collegiate game. We anticipate her making an immediate impact on the court but also recognize her commitment to give back to the community which aligns with our strong beliefs as an organization. Tonight is truly a special night for Paige and the Dallas Wings.”
The 23-year-old combo guard joined Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart as the third UConn player to tally 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals in her career. Bueckers is also the sixth UConn player to be drafted No. 1 overall—following in the footsteps of Sue Bird (2002, Seattle), Diana Taurasi (2004, Phoenix), Tina Charles (2010, Connecticut), Moore (2011, Minnesota) and Stewart (2016, Seattle). She credits her Huskies teammates for contributing to who and where she is today.
“They’ve changed my life, those are my sisters,” Bueckers said. “Just extremely grateful for them. I think two teams, or one team would be genius to add Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin to their teams, so I think they should get drafted tonight. I just love them (UConn teammates) so much and they’re going to be my sisters for life.”
The Dallas Wings will insert Bueckers into an intriguing potential starting lineup that features DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Teaira McCowan, and All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale.
Bueckers and Ogunbowale form an electric backcourt that already can be argued as being one of the best tandems in the league. Ogunbowale averaged 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game last season. Both guards have the ability to play on and off the ball—giving head coach Chris Koclanes a variety of offensive sets to attack opposing defenses.
“I think {Paige Bueckers] is just so unselfish,” Koclanes said. “She can take over a game when she wants to and when she needs to, but she just has such a great feel for getting others involved, and that’s something that’s really special. You put that next to Arike and I feel together they’ll be able to play off of each other and read who’s going, who needs a touch, maybe I need to be more aggressive, maybe I need to defer in this moment. Love [Bueckers’] mindset of getting others involved, I think [Bueckers and Ogunbowale] will mesh well together.”
It’s an exciting time for Wings fans as a new era is in full swing for the franchise. In 2026 the Wings will leave their current home court at UT Arlington’s College Park Center and move to Memorial Arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. The Wings are looking to build something special both on and off the court as they enter a new chapter.
