UConn star Paige Bueckers is getting into the 2025 WNBA Draft, she confirmed to ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo on Friday forward of her crew’s Candy Sixteen matchup in opposition to Oklahoma.
Bueckers is projected to be the No. 1 total choose, which the Dallas Wings presently maintain. The WNBA Draft will happen on April 14 in Brooklyn, New York, after the conclusion of the NCAA ladies’s basketball match.
There had been rumors and hypothesis that Bueckers may forego that draft in hopes of touchdown elsewhere aside from Dallas. Nonetheless, the previous Nationwide Participant of the 12 months by no means expressed such plans, although ESPN reported after the draft lottery that Bueckers’ most popular vacation spot was the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks held the No. 2 choose on the time, which they’ve since traded in a transfer that landed them Kelsey Plum.
Bueckers is within the midst of one other sturdy season with UConn; she’s averaging 19.2 factors on 54.2% taking pictures, with 4.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Within the Spherical of 32, she had one in all her finest video games of the season, ending with 34 factors (14-21 FG), 4 assists, 4 steals, and three rebounds. Buckers has helped lead a UConn crew that is among the frontrunners to win the nationwide championship.
Azzi Fudd, who not too long ago confirmed she wouldn’t be getting into the 2025 WNBA Draft, has additionally been a standout, as has freshman Sarah Robust.
Whereas different gamers have had standout seasons, like Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron and USC’s Kiki Iriafen, it seems extremely unlikely that some other participant could be chosen No. 1.
Paige Bueckers will be part of an thrilling younger core in Dallas
If the Wings choose Bueckers, as anticipated, she’ll be part of a roster headlined by franchise scoring chief Arike Ogunbowale, ahead Maddy Siegrist, and offseason acquisitions Ty Harris, DiJonai Carrington, Myisha Hines-Allen, and NaLyssa Smith.
The offseason additions had been formally launched by common supervisor Curt Miller earlier this week. He identified that the Wings don’t have a 30-year-old on the roster.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25930659/2170853264.jpg)
Bueckers had by no means expressed any plans not to enter the draft this Spring, however some puzzled if she may select to forego this season, as a substitute play in Unequalled, or head abroad with a view to have extra autonomy on the place she may land.
By clarifying that she’ll be getting into the draft — which is just some weeks away — these various choices don’t seem as possible.
