Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers named WNBA Rookie of the Year
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers was a runaway choice for WNBA Rookie of the Year after one of the best debut seasons in league history.
Bueckers received 70 of the 72 votes from sportswriters and broadcasters in balloting announced by the league on Tuesday. The other two went to Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron.
The American was presented the trophy ahead of an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. She was walking through the program's Spirit Tunnel when Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stopped her.
"I bet I'm the last person you thought you'd see on this cool spirit tunnel," she said before handing the trophy to a grinning Bueckers. "But I'm here to present you with the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. Congratulations."
Paige Bueckers did not expect THIS at the end of her tunnel! 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a> <a href="https://t.co/wyJ8RsJdl8">pic.twitter.com/wyJ8RsJdl8</a>
—@JHudShow
The crew chanted "Rookie of the Year! Rookie of the Year!" as Bueckers headed toward the studio. She turned and thanked them.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Bueckers was a bright spot on a team that tied the Chicago Sky with a league-worst 10-34 record.
The 23-year-old American averaged 19.2 points on 47.7 per cent shooting along with 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals. Her 692 points and 194 assists were also the third most by a WNBA rookie.
The highlight was when she scored 44 points in an 80-81 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20. It was the WNBA's highest point total this season and the most ever by a rookie. She also became the first player in league history to score 40 or more while shooting 80 per cent in a game.
That performance came near the end of a 30-game double-digit streak, the third longest to start a career behind A'ja Wilson's 33 games in 2018 and Candace Parker's 32 games in 2008.
cbc.ca
