Few people doubt Paige Bueckers is the biggest star in college women’s basketball. The University of Connecticut guard returned from injury last season to lead her team to this year’s NCAA Tournament finals, making her the almost certain first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Bueckers’ draft stock guarantees her the top pick on April 14. So far, the Dallas Wings hold that spot, and while the team desperately needs a franchise player of the Huskies’ star’s caliber, things might not be that simple.
For some time now, rumors have been circulating in the media that Bueckers doesn’t want to play for the Wings and could pull an “Eli Manning” to force a trade and go to the team of her choice. The player has already denied the rumors, but that hasn’t stopped some experts from speculating about other possible destinations for the star guard.
If not Dallas, where would Bueckers play?
Beyond a possible standout, a draft pick swap is the most likely way Bueckers could end up with another team. Behind Dallas is the Seattle Storm, with the second pick, and the Washington Mystics hold the third and fourth spots.
Either could attempt a last-minute trade to get the number one pick and snatch Bueckers. However, any team willing to attempt such a stunt would have to prepare a massive compensation package for the Wings.
The mission isn’t simple, but it’s not impossible. For example, the Chicago Sky negotiated with the Minnesota Lynx to move up from the 8th overall pick to the 7th overall pick in 2024 to secure Angel Reese. Chicago received Nikolina Milic in the deal but had to give Minnesota Sika Koné, a 2025 second-round pick, and pick-swap rights to their 2026 first-round pick.
Is Paige Bueckers the next Caitlin Clark?
Bueckers’ talent and charisma are undeniable. Many rank her on par with, or even above, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who was the first overall pick in 2024 and went on to catapult the WNBA’s on-site attending and TV ratings.
However, Bueckers is a different story. Despite her immense talent, the UConn guard tends to take a more discreet role on the court, relying more on teamwork than individual maneuvers. She’s also not so keen on appearing in front of the cameras, preferring to focus on her work.
The draft is just a few days away, and we’ll soon know Bueckers’ final destination. However, one thing is for sure: her impact on the WNBA will be on par with the top picks from past drafts.
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