Katie_Dugan
Paige Buekers recently entered the WNBA. She was the first overall pick of the 2025 Draft and will be playing for the Dallas Wings. Recently, women’s basketball has seen a major shift as standout players such as Caitlin Clark have entered the scene. Viewership has increased on all platforms. Could we see the same effect with Bueckers now projected to be the rising star of the 2025-2026 season?
In college, Bueckers was a major contributor to the UConn Huskies, making history even during her freshman year. She led the team in points, assists, and steals. Her accolades were numerous, and she became the first freshman to win the AP Player of the Year Award. She averaged 20 points per game during her first year with the Huskies.
Throughout her college career, she has had to make her way through adversity. Her freshman year got cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bueckers also had to work through numerous injuries. Six games into her sophomore year, she suffered a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear. She was able to come back and continue playing the next February. As Bueckers was prepared to go into her junior season completely healthy, she tore her ACL in the early fall, leaving her unable to participate in the 2022-2023 season.
Despite these setbacks, she was able to come back for her senior season better than ever. She averaged about 20 points per game with 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Bueckers was instrumental in leading the Huskies to an undefeated season and an NCAA championship.
Her post-college career is looking up. The Dallas Wings’ general manager Curt Miller stated, “The addition of Paige is another huge momentum-building moment for the Wings’ franchise and team.” Players like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark could be the major turning point for women’s basketball, inspiring young girls around the country.