Dallas Wings standout Paige Bueckers has been crowned the WNBA Rookie of the Year

Paige Bueckers Named WNBA Rookie of the Year After Historic Debut Season With Dallas Wings

Dallas Wings sensation Paige Bueckers has officially been crowned the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, cementing her place in league history after delivering one of the most electrifying debut seasons ever.

The 21-year-old guard was nearly a unanimous choice, earning 70 of 72 votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, with only two votes going to Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron. The announcement was made by the league on Tuesday, confirming what many fans and analysts had already anticipated throughout the season.

Bueckers’ path to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. In the span of just a few months, she led the University of Connecticut Huskies to their record 12th NCAA national championship and was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Despite joining a struggling Wings team that tied the Chicago Sky for the league’s worst record at 10-34, Bueckers quickly emerged as a bright spot and future cornerstone of the franchise.

Her statistics tell an impressive story: 19.2 points per game on 47.7% shooting, along with 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. She also earned Associated Press Rookie of the Year honors, but her impact extended far beyond the numbers. Bueckers’ 692 total points and 194 assists rank third all-time among WNBA rookies. One of her most unforgettable performances came on August 20, when she poured in 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks — the highest-scoring game by any WNBA player this season and a new rookie record. She also became the first player in league history to score 40 or more points while shooting at least 80 percent from the field.

That game was part of a stunning 30-game streak in which she scored in double figures, the third-longest to start a career behind A’ja Wilson’s 33 in 2018 and Candace Parker’s 32 in 2008. These milestones underscore her consistency, efficiency, and ability to perform at an elite level under pressure.

The Rookie of the Year trophy presentation was as memorable as her season. While preparing to appear on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Bueckers walked through the Spirit Tunnel only to be surprised by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who personally handed her the award. “I bet I’m the last person you thought you’d see on this cool spirit tunnel,” Engelbert joked, before congratulating the smiling Bueckers with the official announcement. The moment was capped off by chants of “Rookie of the Year” from the show’s crew as she graciously thanked them.

Bueckers’ rise has been building for years. She burst onto the college basketball scene at UConn in 2020, winning consensus National Player of the Year as a freshman and earning three All-American honors during her career. Though her college journey was briefly derailed by injuries — including a torn ACL that sidelined her for the entire 2022–23 season — she bounced back with determination, proving her resilience on the court and securing her place as one of basketball’s brightest young stars.

With her rookie season now in the books, Paige Bueckers has already established herself as a cornerstone of the WNBA’s future. Her historic performances, record-breaking achievements, and undeniable star power make her not just the league’s top rookie, but one of its most exciting players to watch moving forward. Fans of the Dallas Wings and the WNBA at large can expect even bigger things from Bueckers in the seasons to come.