Dallas Wings franchise face Paige Bueckers took all but two votes in 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year tally.
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers flew away with this season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year mantle.
The North Texas franchise face earned all but two votes of 72 in the official vote from the W, with only a couple votes to Washington Mystics standout Sonia Citron keeping her from unanimity.
Bueckers was personally presented the award by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert as she prepared to take the stage for a Tuesday appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” She becomes the third Wing to earn the title (joining Allisha Gray and the Cheryl Ford, the latter winning it under the Detroit Shock moniker in 2003) and seventh University of Connecticut alumna (the first since Crystal Dangerfield in 2020).
Paige Bueckers did not expect THIS at the end of her tunnel! 👀 @WNBA @DallasWings pic.twitter.com/wyJ8RsJdl8
— The Jennifer Hudson Show (@JHudShow) September 16, 2025
Though the Wings (10-34) meandered to a league-worst record, Bueckers immediately adapted to the professional game and lived up to the hype that followed her as the top pick out of Storrs. The point guard put up averages of 19.2 tallies and 5.4 assists in her maiden Association voyage, leading all rookies in both categories.
“I think that Paige is such a special player, not only because she can score in such variety — three levels, four, obviously she does all the little things — but I think she also does the right thing,” teammate Haley Jones lauded to Ballislife’s Grant Afseth on DallasHoopsJournal.com. “At the end of the game, she could take the shot, and a lot of times she passes. She has faith in us. I think just her basketball I.Q. and making every single person around her better is insane.”
Bueckers set numerous franchise and rookie records along the way, including a 44-point showing in an August loss to Los Angeles, one that set the new single-game high mark for all-time W freshmen (not counting the inaugural 1997 season).
Thus ends a decorated 2025 for Bueckers, who guided the historic Huskies program to its record-extending 12th NCAA national championship over the spring. Bueckers also appeared on the Associated Press’ All-WNBA second team alongside Sabrina Ionescu (New York), Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle), Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young (Seattle).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags