The 23-year-old phenom Paige Beuckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, held Monday night in New York. Dallas may no longer be alone in regularly selecting players from HBCUs, but Bueckers is not just an addition that brings talent to a team; instead, she changes the face of an entire franchise.
“I'm just extremely excited to be there,” Bueckers said following her selection. “I've only heard great things about the city. So, (I'm) excited to start that new chapter and be in a new city and explore that, and give everything I have to the Wings organization. I know we're going to do great things, and it's a fresh start, and I think we're all ready to do something special.”
New Leadership, New Era for Dallas Wings
Dallas entered the offseason with urgency, overhauling both its coaching staff and front office after a disappointing 9-31 finish in 2024. Former Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller took over as general manager, while his former assistant Chris Koclanes was promoted to head coach.
Now, with Bueckers onboard, the Wings are building a new identity from the ground up.
“Today truly felt like Christmas morning,” Miller shared in a post-draft Zoom call.
Koclanes added, “Just really excited with all that she represents on and off the floor. Just think she's going to be such an important piece and can really have an impact immediately in helping us to establish a strong foundation here in Dallas.”
A Storied Franchise with a Fresh Vision
Originally launched in 1998 as the Detroit Shock, the franchise boasts three WNBA titles (2003, 2006, 2008). The team relocated to Tulsa in 2010 and finally settled in Texas in 2016, becoming the Dallas Wings.
Currently playing at College Park Center in Arlington, the Wings plan to move into the Dallas Memorial Arena in 2026. The upcoming shift will expand seating from 6,000 to 9,000 and include a new practice facility—both signaling a new chapter for the organization.
“We have established that there's new levels of standards that are going to be set in play,” Bueckers said. “It's not a rebuild, it's just a build from where we are... We're excited for the future, and we only think the best is ahead.”
Draft Day Confidence: Dallas Knew It Was Always Paige
Despite rumors of a potential trade involving the No. 1 pick, the Wings front office never wavered.
“We were never going to trade the pick,” said Miller. “We knew we had a special opportunity, and very early on, it was Paige and Paige only. She's such a special player.”
Poised to Spark a Fan Surge in Dallas
Bueckers is no stranger to the spotlight. As a three-time All-American and the 2021 National Player of the Year, she capped off her UConn career by leading the Huskies to the 2025 national title.
“I'm not sure, from my involvement in the game, that there was more pressure on a player to have to win a national championship to define her legacy more than what Paige had to be feeling,” Miller said. “To watch her navigate that pressure and thrive through it is something we all see.”
Now, she’ll take all that experience—and poise—to Texas, where the Wings and an excited fanbase await their next chapter, led by one of the most gifted players women’s basketball has ever seen.