The WNBA revealed Tuesday, Sept. 16, that Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers was named the 2025 WNBA Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
After a vote by sportswriters and commentators, it was decided that the former UConn will be honored with this award.
Paige’s Road to the ROTY
Selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by Wings, the career that Paige cemented in her first year in the league surprised fans and pundits.
Transferring her talents from UConn to the Wings, the rookie broke several records along the way. She accumulated 692 points and 194 assists and a 30-game streak of scoring more than ten points, the third most by a rookie in league history. As if that wasn’t enough, her 17 games scoring 20 points ranks fifth all-time in the WNBA.
In addition, in the game against Los Angeles Sparks, Paige surpassed her personal scoring record in the WNBA (35) and at UConn (40) after her 44 points scored on August 20.
In 36 games played in 2025, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals. This makes her the only freshman to average at least 19 points per game on 47% shooting from the field and 1.5 steals per game.
Her performances did not go unnoticed and she became one of the 10 rookies to start in the All-Star game and the seventh player to also become the Rookie of the Year in the same season.
In addition, the 23-year-old point guard was also selected to the AP All-WNBA Second Team and the AP All-Rookie Team.
Paige is the second ROTY at Wings, since 2016 when the team moved to Dallas. The team made the announcement on its official Instagram account and alongside a photo of Paige wrote: “Don’t hold your breath waiting for her to slow down. Paige Bueckers has officially been named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Why slow down?“
Fans were quick to take to the comments, congratulating the Wings star: “This is just the beginning, PB5. She’s our best player of all time,” wrote one. “Come on, P! No one deserves it more,” another follower stated. “I apologize to anyone who thought there was competition,” another fan commented with goat emojis for Paige.
Undoubtedly, great news for Dallas, after being eliminated early from the Playoffs, closing the season with a 10-34 record.
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