Throughout the college basketball offseason, it hasn’t been difficult to spot the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. UConn star Paige Bueckers has been traveling from coast to coast this fall, jumping from one high-profile event to another, making appearances at the ESPYs, New York Fashion Week, the U.S. Open and several other competitions as she waits for her chance to reach the top. WNBA stratagem. She even captioned it One of our Instagram posts capturing the jet-setting offseason.: “I’m still playing basketball, I swear.”
that dallas wings With the Wings winning the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, allowing them to select Bueckers with the top pick in April, they’ll be happy to know that Bueckers is still playing and playing well. There’s hope in Dallas, but it won’t take until May for Bueckers’ impact to be felt.
Bueckers’ possible addition will impact Dallas’ coaching search, marketability and franchise direction.
What’s unique about this year’s lottery is Uncertainty for 3 out of 4 franchises I participated in the painting. with wings Los Angeles Sparks and Washington MysticsThey fired their coach this offseason. No one hired a replacement. Bueckers’ draw (career 19.9 points per game, National Player of the Year award, two-time All-American) could potentially improve a candidate’s calculus.
“The coaching search has already generated tremendous interest,” said Wings’ new general manager Curt Miller. “This will only increase it.”
Players like Bueckers have the potential to change the direction of a franchise. They make the job more attractive to prospective coaches and generate more interest among fans. (Don’t look any further. having fever employment Stephanie White named Kaitlyn Clark coachChicago Sky hires Tyler Marsh to coach Angel Reese) The Wings hired Miller. As Dallas’ general manager earlier this month, I didn’t know exactly where the team would land on Sunday. But his task of hiring coaches seems easier now. If you were to ask which of the remaining openings in the league (Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington or Connecticut) is the most attractive, the idea of coaching Bueckers might push the Wings to first place.
Among the major questions for the Wings entering this offseason was which of former coach Latricia Trammell’s last two seasons was exceptional. Was it a coincidence that we finished 22-18 and finished fourth in the 2023 campaign? Or did the injury-riddled 2024 season, which saw them go 9-31, change the variance due to coaching?
How does Dallas plan its offseason path? But they keep their unrestricted free agent stars. Sato Savally Add depth around star guard Arike Ogunbowale It will remain a priority. Bueckers, a redshirt senior, has one more year of college eligibility available, but adding her to the Wings’ cornerstone ranks makes their goal of becoming a top contender more achievable. She is a career 42.7% 3-point shooter and a versatile playmaker who can impact the game whether on the ball or spacing the floor. At 6 feet, she can also slide between defensive positions. From the time I spent with him connecticut lineMiller knows the importance of a strong core and said whoever the franchise selects will have the opportunity to fit right into that group.
For the Wings, the benefits of Sunday’s lottery extend beyond the court. Clark, last year’s No. 1 pick, has proven to be a dynamic player and economical. The Fever led the WNBA for the first time, participated in a record-breaking televised matchup across six networks, and created an explosion for local businesses. Bueckers’ presence will certainly benefit the franchise, which aims to relocate from Arlington to downtown Dallas by the start of the 2026 season, and plans to open a new practice facility and undergo broader business changes that year. The Wings rebudgeted ticket revenue three times last season, added more domestic partners than ever before and sold two 0.5% ownership stakes this summer for a league-record $208 million worth.
“I can’t tell you how much energy and enthusiasm this injects as we enter our 25th season and along with other great news about Dallas. Two facilities will be coming here soon. whiz.” Miller said.
Bueckers’ college career did not follow a perfect script. She arrived in Stores, Connecticut in the fall of 2020. I knew that a season with COVID-19 protocols would make my first year different than I imagined during my recruiting process. She won National Player of the Year honors that season, but the Huskies lost to Arizona in the Final Four. Injuries limited her to just 17 games as a sophomore, and she missed the entire 2022-23 season with an ACL injury. Last season was her second healthy collegiate season, but it ended with a Final Four loss. It was her third defeat at that stage.
Buekers entered this season with a different mindset. It’s no longer ‘Passive Paige,’” she said. said this summer. She is playing various roles and positions to capture every moment of her remaining college life. Her first goal is to help UConn win its first national championship since 2016. “This is my last year to achieve what I came here for,” she said, announcing her intention to turn professional this spring.
There were celebrations in Dallas on Sunday, but Miller did not physically attend any of the festivities. His flight from Los Angeles (he was the Sparks’ coach last season and was fired in September) was delayed and eventually canceled, but his luggage was still en route. “If this were the only bad thing, today would be a good day,” Miller said.
The flying snafu was the only stumbling block. Bueckers still has to officially declare for the draft, but the Wings are hoping she can fly down the coast with them next summer. Of course, it may not take her time to make a difference until then.
“I know what impact No. 1 draft picks have had on a franchise, and I know how they’ve changed the trajectory of a team in recent years,” Miller said.
This article originally appeared on: athletic.
Dallas Wings, Connecticut Huskies, WNBA
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