Paige Bueckers, WNBA Rookie of the Year, Receives Award on Jennifer Hudson Show

Paige Bueckers Receives Freshman of the Year Award in an Unexpected Setting

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers was awarded Rookie of the Year in an unusual place. Bueckers, selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, was recognized as the Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the seventh UConn Huskies player to obtain this prestigious recognition. The ceremony took place during the taping of “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” The show, known for creating a festive atmosphere for its guests, set the stage for the award presentation.

Video of the ceremony

As Bueckers walked down the hall, the program staff sang a song in his honor. Bueckers, visibly excited, stopped upon recognizing the WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, who was waiting for her with the Rookie of the Year trophy.

I bet I’m the last person you expected to see in this cool tunnel.

Cathy Engelbert

Engelbert presented the award to Bueckers, while the staff celebrated with chants dedicated to the Wings star. Bueckers is the sixteenth player selected in the first position to win this award. Her impressive 44-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 20th set a new scoring record for a rookie in a single game. During the season, Bueckers played in all 36 games for Dallas, averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.