rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
University of Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers just confirmed what women’s basketball fans have been speculating about for months: She’s officially going pro.
Bueckers shared her intent to declare for the 2025 WNBA draft with ESPN analyst and basketball legend Rebecca Lobo. “Some had suggested she would not declare, play in Unrivaled, and then declare in 2026,” Lobo wrote on X.
Bueckers is a fifth-year senior who still has one year of eligibility left at UConn. She’s played her entire NCAA career there, but missed out on the 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL. She’s currently averaging 19.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game this season.
The phenom has long been projected to be chosen first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, a pick granted to the Dallas Wings at the WNBA Draft Lottery in December. Rumors have suggested Bueckers doesn’t want to play in Dallas, and instead could return to school—or even play in Unrivaled, the new offseason professional women’s league started by WNBA players and UConn alums Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. (Bueckers has a name, image, and likeness deal with that league.)
With WNBA players set to renegotiate their collective bargaining agreement later this year, some also suggested Bueckers may wait for a more favorable rookie contract to be put in place. But as of Friday afternoon, those rumors have all been put to rest, with Bueckers set to join the league after the draft on April 14.
More On The WNBA
Just days ago, Bueckers played her final game at UConn’s home arena, scoring 34 points and leading the Huskies to yet another NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. “It’s been a dream to play here, a dream to wear this uniform, a dream to play in this environment,” Bueckers said after that game. “As much more times as you want it to continue to happen, you take every single chance you have and never take it for granted.”
“Her game and what she does speaks for itself and is a testament to her, to her work, to her love of basketball, and love of being in the gym,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s being rewarded, and that in itself is fulfilling.”
Bueckers and UConn are still on the hunt for an NCAA title, and will face off against the Oklahoma Sooners this weekend.
Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects at Women’s Health, where she works on multi-platform brand initiatives and social media strategy. She also leads the sports and athletes vertical, traveling to cover the Paris Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four for WH. She has nearly 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing social media for national and international publications and is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. A proud native of Pittsburgh, PA, she is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Follow her on Instagram @alucci.
