Paige Bueckers goes No. 1 to Wings in WNBA draft as UConn star begins new era
Paige Bueckers sat wide-eyed and nervous Monday night.
It seemed like everyone knew WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was about to name Bueckers the No. 1 pick except for Bueckers herself.
But when the inevitable happened — Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings — relief, joy and excitement exited the former UConn superstar’s body like a tidal wave.
The Paige Bueckers era has arrived.
“You don’t ever want to assume anything in life,” Bueckers said. “So for this moment to be here and it actually happen, it’s nerve-racking. You just have a level of excitement, nervousness, bittersweet feeling knowing that my journey at UConn is over but excited for the next one to begin.”
Monday’s draft at The Shed in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards officially put an end to the speculation that swirled for the past few months regarding Bueckers’ fate in this year’s draft.
Dallas reportedly was not a desired location for Bueckers, and there were whispers that the former UConn phenom could pull an Eli Manning and make the unprecedented move to force her way to a different franchise.
Bueckers’ conversations with the Wings were “brief” but she let them know where she stood.
“I am coming in and wanting to give everything I have to that organization,” Bueckers said.
That’s exactly what the hundreds of Wings fans who gathered at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, for a watch party wanted to hear.
It’s been nearly two decades since the Wings — then known as the Detroit Shock — won three championships in six years. The franchise has relocated twice and rebranded once since.
Bueckers, the Wings’ first No. 1 pick in franchise history, could be a catalyst in helping change that.
A talented, efficient scorer and versatile defender, Bueckers established herself as one of UConn’s all-time greats during her five years with the Huskies.
In 2021, Bueckers became the first freshman to win the Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college basketball.
Injuries delayed some of her greatness.
But Bueckers took the Huskies to four Final Fours when she was healthy.
Last season, she averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds en route to leading UConn to an elusive national championship.
Bueckers is expected to partner with Arike Ogunbowale in the Dallas backcourt.
Those two, paired with recently acquired wing stopper Dijonai Carrington, could immediately propel the Wings back to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
The Wings are coming off one of the franchise’s worst seasons, going 9-31 for the league’s second-worst record.
Change was inevitable — even before the Wings lucked out at the draft lottery.
Dallas hired Curt Miller on Nov. 8 to be its executive vice president and general manager.
Miller has been a well-respected coach and executive around the league for some time.
His hiring signaled to the rest of the WNBA that Dallas was serious about changing its reputation and wants to become a more favorable franchise for free agents.
Bueckers’ arrival also should help accelerate the Wings’ revamp.
“We have established that there’s new levels of standards that are going to be set in play,” Bueckers said. “There’s a new GM, new coach, new assistant coach, a whole new team, so we’re excited for that fresh start.”
The Wings currently are based in Arlington and practice and play at College Park Center, the home arena on the University of Texas at Arlington’s campus.
The city of Dallas, though, is funding the Wings’ new $54 million practice facility, which is expected to open when the team moves to Dallas in 2026.
This offseason, Satou Sabally, the Wings’ No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, wanted out of Dallas.
As part of the four-team trade that sent Sabally to the Phoenix Mercury, the Wings picked up Carrington, Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith along with several other assets.
And with Bueckers in the fold, the future looks much brighter for Dallas.
“It’s not a rebuild, it’s just a build from where we are,” Bueckers said. “Excited for the new arena, the new practice facility and conversations with the CEO, the GM. We’re excited for the future, and we only think the best is ahead.”
