Paige Bueckers is officially the first overall pick for the Dallas Wings. She will team up with Arike Ogunbowale to make up a new, exciting backcourt duo that can get many buckets and will now be the focus of the “Lone Star State.”
Bueckers is coming into the WNBA after finally winning the national championship with the UConn Huskies this past year and will look to bring that leadership that she learned from the Huskies to a young Dallas Wings team that needs help getting back to the playoffs. Let’s analyze this pick by the Wings and make sense of the pick.
Paige Bueckers’ Numbers and Overall Game
Bueckers finished her career with 2,439 career points, 579 rebounds, and 561 assists during her illustrious career at UConn. It included a 2025 March Madness run that captivated audiences and brought a championship back to Storrs. She had a 41-point explosion in the Sweet 16 against Oklahoma. “Paige Buckets” is a certified bucket, as she is a three-level scorer. She shot 42.3% from three-point range this past season, and can also be the facilitator when needed, especially when you look at the National Championship Game.
Bueckers finished the National Championship with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. When you look at the film in detail, with Bueckers in particular, you can see why she was the favorite for the No. 1 overall pick. She controlled that game from start to finish against the defending national champion so easily it ended up not being a contest by the end of it.
I think Bueckers will easily win the Rookie of the Year with the Wings this season. The Wings could be a dark horse playoff team this season. Like the Fever were with Caitlin Clark last season. Bueckers is that talented of a pick and will also be a star of the new 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled.
Conclusion
The Wings were ecstatic to win the lottery for a reason. That reason is a guard that will change the landscape of the game like Clark did last season with the Fever. Bueckers will make an impact like Clark. Bueckers was the prodigy coming out of high school.
She was the No. 1 prospect in her class. The same class with Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and Kamilla Cardoso. The Wings and the former UConn guard will have a great partnership, lighting up scoreboards with her and Ogunbowale. Total Apex Sports will have more WNBA coverage throughout the rest of the draft and the 2025 season.
