Paige Bueckers heads the WNBA Draft and arrives in Dallas
Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller described his feeling as the excitement of Christmas morning. And it is that his franchise received the gift it had been waiting for: the selection of Paige Bueckers as number 1 in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The UConn star, newly crowned NCAA champion, met the expectations of the team, which had won the draft lottery in November for the first time in its history.
Very soon, it was Paige and only Paige. She is a very special player.
Curt Miller, general manager of the Dallas Wings
Bueckers, a three-time All-American from Hopkins, Minnesota, becomes the sixth player, and the first since Breanna Stewart in 2016, to be the first pick after winning a national championship in the same year. She led the Huskies to their first NCAA title in nine years.
The player expressed her enthusiasm for her arrival in Dallas and her desire to contribute to the team’s success. In addition, she highlighted the excitement of sharing this moment with her former UConn teammates, who supported her in crucial moments.
Conversations with the Wings were brief, but just so they know I’m coming and I want to give everything I have to that organization. Dallas is a sports city, so I’m really excited for the support, the new wave of being there, being in a new city, being with a new team, and conquering those challenges as a group. We have great pieces, great ownership, great general managers, great coaches. The whole organization from top to bottom, I’m really excited about that.
Paige Bueckers
Bueckers’ selection represents a hopeful change for the Wings, who are looking to improve their performance after a struggling season. The player’s arrival is seen as a boost for the franchise’s future.
In the draft, the Seattle Storm selected 19-year-old French star Dominique Malonga, who became the sixth player to be selected in the top two without having attended college in the United States.
The Washington Mystics also stood out by making three of the first six selections, and the Golden State Valkyries made their first selection in franchise history.
The incorporation of Bueckers comes at a time of renewal for the Wings, who have also made changes to their technical staff and roster. The combination of Bueckers with Arike Ogunbowale on the court could become one of the most outstanding duos in the league.
The image of Paige Bueckers with her UConn teammates and coach Geno Auriemma, who were present at the draft, captured the emotion of the moment.
Caption: Paige Bueckers, with her UConn teammates and coach Geno Auriemma, who were present at the draft. “They mean everything to me,” said a moved Bueckers. “They helped me through the ups and downs.”
The draft also included other international players and a notable name that was not selected, Sedona Prince. The 2025 season marks a new chapter for Dallas, with the arrival of Bueckers and the ambition to build a competitive team.
The team is preparing to move to Dallas in 2026, where they will have practice facilities and a renovated stadium.
