When Paige Bueckers hit the court as a freshman, she made an immediate impact. “Everybody was focused on me and what I did at UConn my freshman year,” she said during last year’s NCAA Tournament. From that moment, it was clear—she was built for the spotlight.
Now, people just say it simply: Paige is Paige. Her game speaks for itself, and even her coach, Geno Auriemma, didn’t hold back. After UConn’s win over Syracuse in the second round, he said, “I think every coach thinks the player that’s on their team that’s helping them the most is the best player… Listen, I’ve coached the best player in the country a lot more than anybody else coaching in this tournament. It’s OK for somebody else to say their player is.”
A year ago, she was sidelined with a knee injury as UConn fell to Ohio State in the Sweet 16. Now, she’s leading the charge for a 30–5 Huskies squad trying to make its first Elite Eight since 2022.
“Everybody knows I haven’t had the smoothest sailing in college. I’ve had injuries, a lot of adversity,” Bueckers said. “But just taking whatever life throws at me, continue to conquer it with a great mentality…”
UConn’s roster has been thin—only six players suited up against Syracuse. Bueckers didn’t come off the floor and dropped 32 points. She’s averaging a career-high 21.8 points this season, scoring at least 27 in each of her last five games while playing heavy minutes.
“She’s obviously a really talented player. Pretty complete in every area,” Duke coach Kara Lawson said. “There’s not a lot of weaknesses… she’s good enough to still make plays.”
She’s healthy, leading, and dominating. And with the WNBA Draft coming up, the question now is simple: Where does Paige Bueckers go next?
Where will Paige Bueckers likely land in the 2025 WNBA draft?
Unless something wild happens, Paige Bueckers is going No. 1, and right now, that pick belongs to the Dallas Wings.
The UConn superstar just wrapped up her final season in Storrs and is the consensus top pick for the 2025 WNBA Draft. Multiple outlets—from ESPN to The Athletic—agree: Bueckers is the player to build around.
“For months, there’s been little doubt that UConn guard Paige Bueckers is the consensus No. 1 draft pick,” wrote For The Win’s Megan L. Hall. And as Bleacher Report pointed out, she’s the only player across the NCAA, WNBA, and NBA to hit the 50/40/90 shooting split and lead the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Dallas Wings hold that No. 1 pick—and they need a star. With Satou Sabally gone to Phoenix and Natasha Howard traded to Indiana, Dallas is clearly in rebuild mode. Bueckers would give them a fresh cornerstone to build around.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Back in November, The Next’s Howard Megdal reported that Bueckers might “pull an Eli Manning” and force a trade. ESPN’s Michael Voepel echoed the chatter, saying, “There has been plenty of chatter in the hoops world that Bueckers might not want to play in Dallas… But as it stands, Bueckers is the clear top pick.”
So, does she actually not want to play in Dallas? When asked during a Final Four press conference, Bueckers cut through the noise: “Nowhere specific. Wherever I end up.” Earlier this year, she made it even simpler: “I will play anywhere.”
Dallas GM Curt Miller addressed the speculation, too. In a Dallas Morning News piece, he said, “We have not heard anything directly that any person eligible for this draft would not want to play in Dallas.” He even noted that Wings star Arike Ogunbowale has heard from “most of the top possible draft picks… and they’re all really, really excited about possibly pairing with Arike.”
There’s no question Bueckers would be a good fit in Dallas. She’s the floor general every franchise dreams about. Just ask The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant: “Bueckers showcased the full gamut of skills that make her such a tantalizing prospect: shot-making, shot creation, controlling the tempo and defensive playmaking… She also demonstrated the leadership and aggression any team looks for in a potential franchise player.”
And in case anyone forgot, UConn just announced Bueckers as the 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award winner—the nation’s top point guard. That puts her in the same company as legends like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.
Still, what if Dallas does trade the pick?
The Seattle Storm is a team to watch. They’ve got the No. 3 pick and might be willing to move it if they think they can land a future franchise player like Bueckers. A potential package involving the No. 3 pick, young talent like Jordan Horston, and a future first could be enough to make Dallas think twice.
The Washington Mystics, holding the No. 4 pick, are another dark horse. They’ve got cap space, future picks, and a solid core that could appeal to Dallas if talks with other teams stall.
Bottom line: Dallas holds the keys. And unless a blockbuster trade happens, expect Paige Bueckers in a Wings uniform come draft night.
Who is Paige Bueckers’ player comparison in the WNBA?
When folks talk about Paige Bueckers, two names keep popping up: Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi. And honestly, both comparisons make a lot of sense—just for different reasons.
Caitlin Clark
She’s the talk of the sport right now. Earlier this season, she became the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball history—men’s or women’s. That alone puts her in rare air. But it’s not just the points. Caitlin was the heart and soul of Iowa’s offense. She had the ball constantly, ran the show, hit those logo threes, and still led the country in assists. Her usage rate was sky-high—around 40%—and yet, she stayed super efficient. Her true shooting percentage was .616, which is ridiculous for someone carrying that kind of load.
But Paige? She played the game a little differently. Quieter, smoother, more under control. Her usage rate wasn’t as high—about 29% —but her efficiency? Even better than Clark’s, with a true shooting percentage of .636. That’s not just good. That’s elite.
While Caitlin was launching deep threes and making headlines, Paige was filling up the stat sheet in every way. She defended bigs when her team needed it. She made clutch plays when it mattered. And she became the first player since 2000 to put up at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in three tournament games. That’s not flash—it’s just doing everything really, really well.
And even though Clark is known for her off-the-dribble magic, Paige actually ranked second in the country in points off screens, just ahead of Caitlin. She’s a serious threat with or without the ball.
Clark may have been the more explosive scorer, but Paige was the cleaner playmaker. She committed fewer turnovers and had a better assist-to-turnover ratio—2.62 compared to Clark’s 1.89. That’s the kind of thing coaches love. It means she values the ball and doesn’t waste chances.
So, yeah, the Caitlin comparison is real. They’re both smart, creative, elite scorers who can take over a game. But Paige plays a calmer, more controlled game. She doesn’t need to do it all to dominate.
Diana Taurasi
Paige has been getting compared to Diana Taurasi since she was in sixth grade. No joke. A coach saw her back then and tweeted, “Think Diana Taurasi. Best 6th-grade guard I’ve ever seen.” That turned out to be a pretty sharp call.
Just like Diana back in her UConn days, Paige knows how to rise to the occasion. She’s not loud about it, but when the lights are bright, she shows up. She has that same cool confidence, the same ability to stay locked in and make the right play, even in pressure moments.
They’re both guards who see the whole floor. They read the defense. They know when to shoot, when to pass, and when to just take over. And they both made UConn feel like they always had a shot, no matter who was hurt or what the situation looked like.
So, who does Paige Bueckers play like?
In a way, she’s a mix of both. She’s got Caitlin’s ability to score and stretch defenses. But she’s also got Diana’s calm, steady presence and leadership. She’s the kind of player who can fit into any system, handle any role, and still be the best player on the floor when it matters most.
Soon, she’ll be off to the WNBA. And once she gets there, it won’t be long before someone’s asking: who does this new rookie remind you of?
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