UConn’s Paige Bueckers was chosen first total by the Dallas Wings within the WNBA draft
Paige Bueckers turned the most recent UConn participant to be chosen first total within the WNBA draft because the Dallas Wings introduced the 23-year-old guard in New York Metropolis.
“Just an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” Bueckers stated on ESPN. “It’s super surreal just being here with other draft invites. … To be here right now, I’m just extremely blessed.”
Bueckers is the sixth UConn participant to be chosen first within the WNBA draft. She joins a legendary record of Sue Hen (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010), Maya Moore (2011) and Breanna Stewart (2016).
Bueckers capped off her faculty profession by main UConn to the 2025 nationwide title. She was a three-time All-American, the nationwide participant of the yr in 2021 and one of the crucial common gamers in girls’s basketball.
Bueckers is a stellar three-point shooter who made 42.3 per cent (236 of 558) of her makes an attempt in her 4 seasons with the Huskies. She had profession averages of 19.8 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and a pair of.1 assists.
“Everybody has invested a lot of me and part of me wanted to give back to them and show I can be better and how all their hard work helped me get to this stage,” Bueckers stated. “I didn’t do it alone, it took a village.”
The Seattle Storm had the second alternative and chosen 6ft 6in Dominique Malonga from France.
The 20-year-old helped France win the 2024 Olympic silver medal in Paris and has been enjoying professionally in France.
“I will work very hard to fit into this league,” stated Malonga, who was born in Cameroon. “I know it will be tough, I know it will be hard but I’m ready to work.”
The Washington Mystics had three of the subsequent 4 alternatives and selected Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron, Southern California ahead Kiki Iriafen and Kentucky level guard Georgia Amoore.
Citron, who stands 6ft 1in, averaged 14.1 factors, 5.4 rebounds and a pair of.7 assists this season. The No 3 total choose is also a standout defender.
“I’m going to work hard and keep trying to get better,” Cintron stated. “I have amazing women to learn from in this league. I’m going to continue to play both sides of the ball and be myself.”
The 6ft 3in Iriafen went fourth total. She was a third-team All-American this season whereas averaging 18.0 factors and eight.4 rebounds.
“I’ve just been resilient,’ an emotional Iriafen said. “There was lots [of ups and downs] in my final season and I simply trusted the method.”
2025 WNBA Draft outcomes
FIRST ROUND
1. Wings – G Paige Bueckers, UConn
2. Storm – C Dominique Malonga, France
3. Mystics – G Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
4. Mystics – F Kiki Iriafen, USC
5. Valkyries – G Juste Jocyte, Lithuania
6. Mystics – G Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
7. Solar – F Aneesah Morrow, LSU
8. Solar – F Saniya Rivers, NC State
9. Sparks – G Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
10. Sky – F Ajsa Sivka, Slovenia
11. Sky – G Hailey Van Lith, TCU
12. Wings – G Aziaha James, NC State
SECOND ROUND
13. Aces – G Aaliyah Nye, Alabama
14. Wings – G/F Madison Scott, Ole Miss
15. Lynx – F Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, Russia
16. Sky – F Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
17. Valkyries – G Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
18. Dream – G Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
19. Fever – F Makayla Timpson, Florida State
20. Fever – G Bree Corridor, South Carolina
21. Sparks – F Sania Feagin, South Carolina
22. Sky – G Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M
23. Mystics – G Lucy Olsen, Iowa
24. Lynx – F Dalayah Daniels, Washington
25. Solar – C-F Rayah Marshall, Southern California
THIRD ROUND
26. Storm – G Serena Sundell, Kansas State
27. Sparks – G JJ Quinerly, West Virginia
28. Sparks – F Liatu King, Notre Dame
29. Storm – G Madison Conner, TCU
30. Valkyries – G Kaitlyn Chen, UConn
31. Wings – C Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
32. Mystics – G Zaay Inexperienced, Alabama
33. Fever – F Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
34. Storm – G Jordan Hobbs, Michigan
35. Aces – G Harmoni Turner, Harvard
36. Dream – F Taylor Thierry, Ohio State
37. Lynx – F Aubrey Griffin, UConn
38. Liberty – F Adja Kane, France
