WNBA Draft: Paige Bueckers Set to Elevate Dallas Wings
As anticipation builds for the WNBA Draft, all eyes are on Paige Bueckers, who is expected to be the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings. This promising athlete, who recently led the University of Connecticut to an NCAA championship, is poised to bring transformative change to the team.
WNBA draftee Paige Bueckers lights the Empire State Building on Monday in New York City. Bueckers, a standout at the University of Connecticut, is expected to be the top pick in Monday evening’s WNBA draft. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Following a successful college career, Paige Bueckers is on the verge of joining the ranks of WNBA superstars. The Dallas Wings, who have struggled since their 2008 championship win when the team was based in Detroit, are hopeful that Bueckers’ addition will reverse their fortunes.
The Wings, who secured the first pick during November’s WNBA Draft Lottery, have already sold out 2025 season tickets in anticipation of her arrival. According to Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller, “It’s a truly, truly exciting time to have the No. 1 pick.”
Bueckers’ Journey to the Top
Paige Bueckers’ journey has been marked by high expectations and significant achievements. As the top high school recruit in 2020, she quickly made an impact at UConn, leading the team to the Final Four and claiming major national Player of the Year awards as a freshman. Despite facing injuries in subsequent years, she returned to deliver a national championship victory for UConn this year.
Bueckers’ decision to remain in college for her senior year, rather than entering the 2024 WNBA Draft, has paid off. Her recent performance in the championship game against South Carolina — scoring 17 points and adding six rebounds — cements her legacy as a resilient and accomplished athlete. “It’s been a story of resilience, of gratitude, of adversity, of overcoming adversity,” Bueckers remarked after the game.
Other Stories from the WNBA Draft
While Bueckers is the anticipated star of the draft, other teams are strategizing to improve their rosters. The Washington Mystics, with three top picks, are set to make significant additions, potentially targeting USC’s Kiki Iriafen or Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron. Meanwhile, the Seattle Storm, bolstered by a four-team trade, hold the second overall pick.
Forward Kiki Iriafen, of the University of Southern California Trojans, is expected to be among the top picks chosen in Monday night’s WNBA Draft. Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Other teams such as the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks also look to leverage their draft positions. Sixteen players, including international talent Dominique Malonga, have been invited to the draft, which will be broadcasted live on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
