Paige Bueckers, poised to claim the No. 1 spot in the WNBA Draft, has stunned the basketball world with a bold career move just hours before her professional debut. Fresh off leading UConn to a national championship, the phenom is rewriting her future.
Paige Bueckers’ blockbuster Unrivaled deal
ESPN reports that Bueckers will ink a lucrative three-year contract with Unrivaled, the cutting-edge 3-on-3 basketball league. In just one 10-week season, she’s set to outearn what a four-year WNBA rookie contract would pay-shattering expectations for the projected top pick, whose WNBA starting salary would be a modest $78,831, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Last year, the UConn standout signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled, securing equity in the league. While her collegiate commitments with UConn-capped by a national title on April 6-kept her from playing, she’s now free to dominate a new stage.
In her final season at UConn, Bueckers dazzled, posting 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, with a 53.4% field goal accuracy and a scorching 41.9% from beyond the arc. Hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent, she’s primed to transform the Dallas Wings, who hold the draft’s top pick, into a powerhouse.
Unrivaled’s rise: A WNBA rival?
Following a blockbuster first season, Unrivaled is eyeing stars like Caitlin Clark, signaling a potential seismic shift in women’s basketball. With over $27 million in revenue-more than double investor projections-the league’s meteoric success could challenge the WNBA‘s dominance.
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