Paige Bueckers going No. 1 in the 2025 WNBA Draft was a forgone conclusion from the moment she announced she was leaving UConn. On Monday night, she officially became a Dallas Wing.
Bueckers, who wore her heart on her sleeve after being subbed out for the final time in the Huskies’ national championship win over South Carolina, was similarly emotional speaking to Holly Rowe after having her name called.
Also similar to her court-side kudos to the UConn staff, she was most emotional when she was talking about her teammates and all of the people who helped her get to this point, rather than making the moment about herself.
‘Just an overwhelming sense of gratitude,’ Bueckers told Rowe when she was asked what was on her mind after being picked first. ‘It’s super surreal just being here with other draft invitees. My teammates are here. My family’s here. Just super grateful. Been focusing on staying present. Staying where my feet are. And to be here right now I’m just extremely blessed.’
Paige Bueckers gets emotional about teammates in attendance
While Bueckers kept an even tone while talking about her own journey, her voice did waver when she talked about her UConn teammates being in attendance to see her go first overall.
‘They’ve changed my life, those’re my sisters,’ Bueckers said before taking a moment to collect herself. ‘Just extremely grateful for them. I think two teams or one team would be genius to add Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin to their team so I think they should get drafted tonight. But just, I just love them so much and they’re gonna be my sisters for life.’
Finally, Bueckers signed off with a food confession, although not an unforgivable one for a Midwesterner who played basketball on the Atlantic coast.
‘Before I was asked about Tex Mex vs barbecue I was unfamiliar with the term Tex Mex so that’s my pick. But Dallas I’m so excited just a new city. A new start. A fresh start and so. I’m excited let’s get it.’
