Paige Bueckers Goes No. 1 in WNBA Draft, Joins Dallas Wings as New Franchise Star
In a moment years in the making, UConn’s standout guard Paige Bueckers was selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings on Monday night, officially beginning what many expect to be a legendary professional career.
Held in Manhattan, the draft saw Bueckers don the Wings jersey in front of a roaring crowd, bringing her collegiate fairytale to a close just weeks after leading the UConn Huskies to a dominant 82-59 championship victory over South Carolina.
“This is just the beginning,” Bueckers told reporters with a smile. “You don’t ever want to assume anything in life. This is a fresh start, and we’re ready to build something special in Dallas.”
Bueckers, 22, enters the league with a decorated college career but also a story of resilience. She won the Naismith Trophy as a freshman, immediately turning heads with her court vision and poise. But the journey wasn’t smooth. A knee injury sidelined her for 19 games during her sophomore year, and a torn ACL forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 season. Still, she returned stronger than ever and capped off her final season by guiding her team to glory.
“Through every high and low, my teammates at UConn stood by me,” she said. “They’ve seen me at my best and my worst, and their love is what kept me going.”
Bueckers leaves college with career averages of 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Now, she steps into the WNBA spotlight as the face of a Dallas Wings squad eager to bounce back from a tough 9-31 season.
Dallas fans were quick to welcome their new star, despite Bueckers playfully admitting she’s still getting used to Texas culture — including its famous Tex-Mex cuisine. NBA star and Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis even chimed in with a congratulatory video message, saying, “From one No. 1 pick to another, welcome to Dallas.”
Dominique Malonga Highlights Global Rise in Women’s Basketball
Following Bueckers, France’s 6-foot-5 center Dominique Malonga was selected second overall by the Washington Mystics. The 19-year-old, fresh off a silver medal performance at the Paris Games, said she’s eager to prove that French women can leave just as big a mark on the WNBA as compatriot Victor Wembanyama has on the NBA.
“I’m proud to show that French basketball is reaching levels we’ve never seen before,” said Malonga, the highest pick from France since 1997.
Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron and USC’s Kiki Iriafen rounded out the top four picks, also going to the Mystics, who held multiple early selections.
The newly established Golden State Valkyries — the WNBA’s first expansion team since 2008 — made their mark at fifth overall by selecting Lithuanian teenager Juste Jocyte, signaling the league’s continued growth on the international stage.
With Bueckers now officially in the league and global stars on the rise, the WNBA’s future looks brighter — and more exciting — than ever.
