Latest news with #WadeTrophy
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers' Blunt Response to Immediate Problem in WNBA Rookie Season
On Monday, the Dallas Wings dropped their second straight game, falling 79-71 at home to the Seattle Storm. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds, improving markedly on her debut line of 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists in a season-opening loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Advertisement Yet, the Wings shot a woeful 4-for-19 from three and were repeatedly burned by Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike, who combined for 61 points. After the final buzzer, a reporter noted that defenses have been sending double teams at Bueckers "on nearly every possession" and asked how she planned to respond. "I mean it's probably smart just to get the ball out of my hands, and just trying to... adjust offensively on how to counteract a trap... and maybe less ball screens and screening," Bueckers said. "But it's just something a different look that defenses are throwing at me, which is an adjustment. And so just continue to learn and work through that." Bueckers concluded a decorated five-year career at UConn this spring as the nation's premier college player. Advertisement She led the Huskies to the 2025 NCAA title, earning all of the sport's top honors in her senior year: the Honda Sports Award, Wade Trophy, and AP Player of the Year, among others. A three-time unanimous first-team All-American (2021, 2024, 2025) and two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner, Bueckers posted a career scoring average of 19.9 points per game, the highest in UConn history. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5).Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Wings selected her with the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft in April. At 0-2, they now face a true test of resilience when Bueckers returns to Minnesota on Wednesday for her 'homecoming' versus the Lynx. Related: Former WNBA Champion Involved in Caitlin Clark Incident Gets Released Related: Indiana Fever Turn Heads with Roster Announcement on Thursday
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Wings' Strong Statement on Paige Bueckers Amid Rookie Season
The Dallas Wings may not have a strong team this year, but they do have a strong rookie in Paige Bueckers who should help transform them into winners in the years to come. She struggled in her WNBA debut on Friday by going 3-of-10 from the field and scoring just 10 points. But in the first half of Monday's game versus the Seattle Storm, she scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and added four assists, two rebounds and one block. Advertisement On their official X account, the Wings reminded the rest of the league that Bueckers will be an issue for many other teams for a long time. "We've got Paige... you've got problems :)" the caption read. Less than two months ago, Bueckers led the UConn Huskies to the women's NCAA championship over South Carolina. For the season, she averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds a game while shooting 53.4% from the field and 41.9% from 3-point range. The guard won the Wade Trophy, the Big East Player of the Year and Nancy Lieberman Award in 2025, and she was the No. 1 pick in last month's WNBA draft by Dallas. May 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes over Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) during the second half at College Park Jairaj-Imagn Images Dallas, a franchise that won three league championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008 when it was known as the Detroit Shock, has fallen upon hard times in recent years. It went just 9-31 last season and has had a winning record just once in the last nine seasons. Advertisement But in Bueckers, it could have the WNBA's next superstar to build around moving forward. Related: Paige Bueckers Reveals Truth on Exchange With Napheesa Collier
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn Shares Exciting Statement Featuring Paige Bueckers on Friday
The UConn Huskies women's basketball program recently celebrated another significant milestone. With the 2025 WNBA season set to tip off, 15 former Huskies will begin the year on opening-day rosters. Among the names highlighted was guard Paige Bueckers, who is set to make her debut with the Dallas Wings in their season opener against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday. Advertisement Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft after a standout college career with the Huskies. UConn took to X to celebrate the achievement, highlighting not only the program's strong pipeline to the professional ranks but also one of college basketball's most decorated players stepping onto the WNBA stage. Bueckers arrived at UConn in 2020 and quickly reshaped expectations for freshman guards. In 2021, she became the first-ever freshman to claim the John R. Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year, joining an elite list of Huskies legends. In her final senior season in 2024-25, she led UConn in scoring (19.9 ppg) and assists (4.6 apg), while shooting 53.4% from the field and 41.9% from 3-point range. Advertisement In the process, she guided the Huskies to their 12th national title, won the Wade Trophy, Nancy Lieberman Award, and consensus First-Team All-America honors. She also earned Big East Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player distinctions. Dallas Wings guard Paige Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Dallas finished 2024 with a 9-31 record, the franchise's worst winning percentage since 2011. Now, the Wings enter the 2025 WNBA season with a renewed sense of hope, as a former college basketball icon leads the franchise into a new era. Related: Wings Release Two of Paige Bueckers' Teammates on Saturday Related: Indiana Fever Turn Heads with Roster Announcement on Thursday
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers' New Post Before First WNBA Season Catches Attention
The Dallas Wings have been struggling for years, but they have some new hope for the upcoming WNBA season and the future in the form of rookie Paige Bueckers. Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in last month's draft after a stellar college career at UConn. She led the school to the women's NCAA championship just weeks ago when it defeated South Carolina easily in the final game. Advertisement Now she will look to turn the Wings into winners after they went just 9-31 last year. She posted a photo of herself in a Wings jersey on her Instagram account with a one-word message. "Rook," the caption read. The Wings have had a winning record just once ever since they moved to Dallas from Tulsa, Okla. for the 2016 season. In Bueckers, they will have a potential superstar to build around. Cameron Brink guarding Paige Bueckers during a 2022 college Lee-Imagn Images The six-foot guard averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game while shooting 53.1% from the field and 42.3% from 3-point range during her career at UConn. She won both the AP Player of the Year and John R. Wooden awards in 2021, and this past season, she was awarded the Wade Trophy for being the best upperclass women's player in the nation. Advertisement She can score efficiently from all three levels and can play multiple positions, and her style of play has been compared to that of WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. Dallas will begin its 2025 regular season at home versus the Minnesota Lynx on Friday. Related: Lynx Player Has Strong Paige Bueckers Statement Before Wings Game
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wings Release Paige Bueckers' Teammate on Tuesday
As the franchise ushers in a new era under superstars Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and Arike Ogunbowale, a four-time All-Star, the Dallas Wings broke some major news on Tuesday. Rookie center Aaronette Vonleh has officially been waived by the Wings, the team announced on X. Advertisement Despite Vonleh's standout lone season at Baylor, where she averaged 14.9 points on 58.5% shooting and earned Second‑Team All‑Big 12 honors, the Wings opted to trim their frontcourt depth ahead of the May 15 roster deadline. The 21‑year‑old Vonleh, selected 31st overall in April's draft, will now seek opportunities elsewhere or overseas after Dallas cleared her roster spot. Dallas closed the 2024 campaign at 9-31, finishing with their worst winning percentage since 2011. With new general manager Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes installed, the Wings shook up their strategy by winning the draft lottery and selecting Bueckers first overall. Advertisement Bueckers arrives in Dallas as one of the most decorated college players in history. A 2025 NCAA champion, she collected every major national award, including the Wade Trophy, Naismith, Wooden, and AP Player of the Year. Bueckers was a three‑time unanimous All‑American and averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in her senior season. Dallas Wings guard Paige Carchietta-Imagn Images In her preseason debut on May 2, Bueckers posted 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in a loss to the Las Vegas Aces. While immediate playoff contention remains a stretch, the Bueckers-Ogunbowale pairing provides a compelling foundation for growth in 2025. Advertisement Related: Wings Release Two of Paige Bueckers' Teammates on Saturday Related: Indiana Fever Coach Shares Major Concern About Upcoming Game
