The Brief
- The Dallas Wings possess the first overall selection in the 2025WNBA draft.
- Paige Bueckers from UConn is expected to be selected first overall.
- The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 14 at The Shed in New York City.
The Dallas Wings hold the first pick in the upcoming 2025 WNBA draft, with NCAA champion Paige Bueckers expected to be their choice.
Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers stands as the clear-cut number one pick in this draft and continues to be among the most decorated athletes in the annals of women’s collegiate basketball.
Bueckers revealed her choice to join the 2025 WNBA Draft during this year’s NCAA Tournament, as reported.
Rebecca Lobo
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Bueckers, hailing from Minnesota, achieved three First-team All-America honors and was awarded both the AP Player of the Year and the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2021.
During her sophomore year, she largely sat out due to a tibial plateau fracture and a meniscus tear. Before the subsequent season began, she suffered an ACL injury as well.
Bueckers concluded her collegiate tenure by guiding the UConn Huskies to an 82-59 triumph over the reigning champion University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Tournament Championship on Sunday. This win marked UConn’s first title since 2016, breaking a nine-year championship drought for the squad.
“It has been a tale of resilience, gratitude, and conquering hardships while addressing life’s obstacles,” Bueckers stated. “I would not exchange it for anything.”
By the numbers
This season, Bueckers managed an average of 20.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while maintaining a 42% success rate from beyond the arc.
In this year’s Elite Eight match against Oklahoma, she achieved a personal best of 40 points.
What is the date for the WNBA Draft?
The 29th yearly WNBA draft is scheduled for Monday, April 14, taking place at The Shed in New York City.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will reveal the draft selections live on ESPN starting with exclusive coverage at 6:30 p.m. CST.
This signifies the second consecutive year that the draft will take place as a seated event with fans present.
WNBA Expansion
The WNBA plans to grow from 12 teams to 15 across the upcoming two seasons. This marks the first time the league has expanded since adding the Atlanta Dream back in 2008.
In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries will initiate their expansion phase, with San Francisco being chosen as the home for the 13th WNBA team.
The Source
The details in this article are sourced from WNBA.com and the Associated Press.
