Paige Bueckers Wins WNBA Rookie of the Year After Record-Breaking Debut Season

Paige Bueckers has been named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year. The Dallas Wings guard earned the honor after a historic debut season that set multiple franchise records. The award was announced Tuesday after weeks of speculation across the league.

The 21-year-old UConn standout proved her potential from day one. She was drafted No. 1 overall in April and quickly became the face of a struggling Wings team. According to AP reports, Bueckers is only the second player in Dallas franchise history to win the award since the team relocated to Texas.

Bueckers’ Rookie Season Numbers Tell the Story

Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. She finished fifth in scoring league-wide and ranked top 10 in assists and steals. No other rookie matched her all-around impact. Her efficiency rating of 20.3 was the best among WNBA guards.

She delivered several headline performances. On August 20, she scored 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks. That was the highest-scoring game in the WNBA since 2023. She also became the only player in league history to score 40-plus points while shooting above 80% from the field.

Her season totals included setting rookie franchise records for points, assists and double-doubles. She also shot 47.7% from the field and 33.1% from three-point range. Analysts expect her perimeter shooting to improve further next season.

Milestones Beyond the Rookie Award

Bueckers was voted an All-Star starter in July, making her only the 10th rookie ever to earn that honor. She became the seventh player in WNBA history to start an All-Star game and later win Rookie of the Year in the same year. She also earned Rookie of the Month honors in June, July and August.

Her performance placed her in rare company. Only Candace Parker had previously averaged at least 19 points and five assists while shooting over 47% as a rookie. Bueckers now joins that elite list.

Her rise has energized the Wings fan base despite the team’s overall struggles. Dallas finished the season with just 19 wins over the last two years. The team now faces big questions on how to build around her talent.

What Comes Next for Dallas and Bueckers

The Wings remain in rebuilding mode. They are expected to be in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. General Manager Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes now face pressure to add pieces that complement Bueckers.

The league also faces a possible work stoppage if a new labor agreement is not reached. Still, fans and analysts agree Bueckers is the kind of star that can carry the WNBA forward. Her rivalry with Caitlin Clark, who starred last year as a rookie, may define the league’s next decade.

Paige Bueckers has already proven she is not just a rising star but a franchise cornerstone. The WNBA Rookie of the Year award is only the beginning.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: Who won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year?

Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings won the award after her first professional season.

Q2: What were Paige Bueckers’ rookie season stats?

She averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game with 47.7% shooting.

Q3: Did Paige Bueckers make the All-Star team?

Yes. She started the All-Star game in July, becoming only the 10th rookie to ever do so.

Q4: What records did Bueckers set with the Dallas Wings?

She set rookie franchise records for points, assists and double-doubles in a single season.

Q5: Who was her main competition for Rookie of the Year?

Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics was in contention early but Bueckers pulled away in the summer.