In a surprise reveal on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers was named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert presented the Kia award on air, leaving the No. 1 draft pick stunned and elated.
Bueckers dominated voting with 70 of 72 first-place nods, edging out Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron. It’s the first official ROTY for a Wings player since Allisha Gray in 2017. She also earned AP Rookie of the Year honors, a Second Team nod, and a unanimous All-Rookie selection.
The 23-year-old UConn alum started all 36 games, leading rookies in scoring (19.2 PPG) and assists (5.4 APG), while adding 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Her 692 points and 194 assists rank third all-time for WNBA rookies. Bueckers topped the league in efficiency, shooting 47.7% from the field and 88.8% from the line.
Her pinnacle: a 44-point explosion on August 2 vs. the Sparks—WNBA rookie-record on 81% shooting, tying Cynthia Cooper-Dyke’s mark and setting a season-high. She swept Rookie of the Month for June-August, the first Wings player to win three.
Defensively elite, Bueckers ranked top-20 in steals and blocks. She notched multiple double-doubles and broke Dallas rookie records for points and assists.
A two-time college Player of the Year from Edina, Minn., Bueckers led UConn to a 12th title. Despite Dallas’ 10-34 finish, her poise shone—e.g., a 24-8-7 line in the finale. Teammates lauded her game control, and she credited the team for her growth.
As the second AP ROTY in franchise history, Bueckers joins legends like Tamika Catchings. With a high draft pick ahead, Dallas eyes playoffs. Bueckers’ debut cements her as a future star, blending scoring, vision, and defense in rare fashion.
