Paige Bueckers Wins 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award

Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings has been named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, a recognition announced by the league on Tuesday. This accolade makes Bueckers the seventh player from the University of Connecticut (UConn) to earn this prestigious award.

Receiving an impressive 70 of 72 first-place votes from a media panel, Bueckers outperformed fellow rookie Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics, who garnered the remaining two votes. Bueckers was chosen as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft held in April, shortly after she played a pivotal role in helping UConn secure its 12th national championship.

In her inaugural season, Bueckers made an impact as a starter in all 36 games for the Wings. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, showcasing her versatility and skill. Her shooting was particularly noteworthy, as she achieved a remarkable 47.4% from the field and an impressive 88.8% from the free-throw line.

Bueckers led all WNBA rookies in several key statistical categories, including total points with 692, points per game, total assists at 194, and assists per game. Notably, she was the only player in the league to finish in the top ten for points, assists, and steals per game. Her standout performance on August 2 against the Los Angeles Sparks was historic; she set a WNBA single-game rookie record by scoring 44 points while shooting 81% from the field, a first for any player in the league to score over 40 points with such accuracy.

Despite Bueckers’ stellar performance, the Wings concluded the season with a 10-30 record, resulting in their absence from the playoffs. They will have another chance to improve their roster in the upcoming draft lottery.

Bueckers joins a distinguished group of UConn alumni who have received the Rookie of the Year honor, including notable players such as Diana Taurasi in 2004, Tina Charles in 2010, Maya Moore in 2011, Breanna Stewart in 2016, Napheesa Collier in 2019, and Crystal Dangerfield in 2020. The Rookie of the Year award has been presented since 1998, during the league’s second year, and Bueckers is now the 16th player drafted first overall to receive this accolade.

With her remarkable season and significant contributions to the game, Bueckers has firmly established herself as a rising star in the WNBA.