Paige Bueckers won the WNBA rookie of the year award at the back of a stellar debut year for the Dallas Wings. Coming out of the University of Connecticut, she joins San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle to make basketball history in the NBA.
For the first time in the league’s history, the Rookie of the Year has come from the same program. Castle and Bueckers have proven that UConn is currently on another level.
Castle announced for the NBA draft after just one season with the Huskies, but they won the NCAA championship that year. The six-foot-six guard was picked fourth overall by the upsurging San Antonio Spurs.
Bueckers was already one of the most hyped rookies coming out of college after Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. She was picked number one overall by the Dallas Wings.
She bagged 70 out of the 72 votes from senior media members and active broadcasters. Her exceptional season for the Wings ended with a regular-season exit, but she shone through brightly. Her 44-point game against the Los Angeles Sparks, on August 20, was a record-setting performance for a WNBA rookie.
Spurs’ Castle also had a stellar rookie season, where he outdid many other rookie stars to bag the coveted award at the end of the 2024-25 season. Castle averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over 81 games, playing 26.7 minutes per game.
Bueckers, on the other hand, played 36 games, averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Her field goal percentage was 47.7% from the field, 33.1% from the three-point line, and 88.8% from the free throw line. She became the first rookie in history to average 15 points and 5 assists through the season with a field goal percentage crossing 45%.
“Thank you, God, for an amazing rookie year. Process over results. Unconditional joy and gratitude, so much to be thankful for. Love my squad, they all deserve Teammates of the Year in my book, nothing is possible without them. Now let’s keep on keeping on. Go wings!” Bueckers shared in an Instagram post after the win.
Dallas has really scored big by getting the next WNBA star in the making. Wings GM Curt Miller put up a congratulatory post for his star rookie.
“Incredible player… better person. This is just the beginning. Congratulations, Paige!” the Wings’ General Manager said in a post on X.
The moment Bueckers received the trophy was also special, as she was appearing for an interview on the Jennifer Hudson Show. At the end of her tunnel walk, Bueckers finds WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert waiting for her as the audience and crew members break into applause.
It was a moment worthy of the excitement and precision Bueckers has shown in her rookie season. It will be interesting to see where Bueckers takes her career after such a stellar start.
