11 Jun 2025
Why Paige Bueckers is Already the WNBA Rookie of the Year Favorite After Just 5 Games
The 2025 WNBA season is barely a month old, but one thing has already become crystal clear: Paige Bueckers is living up to every bit of the hype that followed ...
The 2025 WNBA season is barely a month old, but one thing has already become crystal clear: Paige Bueckers is living up to every bit of the hype that followed her from the University of Connecticut to professional basketball. The Dallas Wings' first overall pick has not only met expectations—she's exceeded them in ways that have WNBA general managers, fans, and analysts already penciling her name in for Rookie of the Year honors.
In an anonymous survey of all 13 WNBA general managers conducted before the season, Bueckers received an overwhelming 73% of the votes for Rookie of the Year—a remarkable show of confidence for any rookie, let alone one who hadn't played a professional minute at the time. Five games into her WNBA career, those predictions are looking prophetic.
The UConn Foundation: Building a Champion
To understand why Bueckers has transitioned so seamlessly to professional basketball, you have to start with her legendary career at the University of Connecticut. The Huskies program, under coach Geno Auriemma, has long been the gold standard for developing WNBA-ready talent, and Bueckers represents perhaps the program's most complete prospect in years.
Her UConn résumé reads like a basketball fairy tale. Bueckers became the first freshman ever to win the Naismith Women's College Basketball Player of the Year Award in 2021—a feat that immediately announced her as a generational talent. Over her four-year career in Storrs, she battled through injuries that would have derailed lesser players, always returning stronger and more determined.
The crowning achievement came in April 2025, when Bueckers led Connecticut to the NCAA championship, bringing home another title to a program that had been waiting for its next crown. For UConn fans who had watched her grow from a teenage phenom into a mature leader, the championship felt like destiny fulfilled.
Her college statistics tell only part of the story:
| Season at UConn | Points Per Game | Assists Per Game | Shooting % | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (Freshman) | 20.0 | 5.8 | 52.4% | Naismith Player of the Year |
| 2022 (Sophomore) | 14.6 | 6.2 | 46.4% | Injury-shortened season |
| 2024 (Junior) | 21.9 | 5.2 | 53.2% | Return from injury |
| 2025 (Senior) | 19.8 | 4.5 | 51.1% | NCAA Champion |
Beyond the numbers, Bueckers developed the intangibles that separate good college players from professional stars: court vision, leadership under pressure, and an understanding of how to make teammates better—all hallmarks of the UConn system.
Immediate Professional Impact
When Bueckers stepped onto a WNBA court for the first time this season, she didn't need an adjustment period. The transition from Gampel Pavilion to professional arenas appeared seamless, a testament to both her preparation at Connecticut and her natural basketball IQ.
The breakthrough moment came in Dallas's first victory of the season, a 109-87 triumph over the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena—familiar territory for any UConn alum. Playing on the same court where she'd competed in countless college games, Bueckers erupted for a career-high 21 points, looking every bit the franchise player the Wings envisioned when they selected her first overall.
"I don't think I ever lost [at Mohegan Sun Arena]," Bueckers said after the victory, her confidence evident. "I was trying to carry that into tonight."
The performance was historic in multiple ways. Bueckers became the first WNBA player to accumulate over 60 points and 30 assists in her first five professional games—a combination of scoring and playmaking that speaks to her well-rounded skillset. She also joined an exclusive club by recording a 20-5-5 line while shooting 80% or better from the field, becoming the first rookie to achieve those numbers since Temeka Johnson in 2005.
The Competition: Why Bueckers Stands Apart
While Bueckers enters the WNBA as the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year, the 2025 class features several talented players who could challenge for the honor. Understanding the competition only reinforces why Bueckers has emerged as the frontrunner.
Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm, #2 pick) presents the most intriguing alternative. The 19-year-old French center brings international experience and impressive physical tools at 6'6". Interestingly, 60% of WNBA GMs believe Malonga will be the best player from this rookie class in five years—but immediate impact favors Bueckers.
Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics, #3 pick) rounds out the top contenders, receiving 9% of GM votes for Rookie of the Year. The former Notre Dame star has shown flashes of brilliance, contributing to Washington's surprisingly strong start to the season.
However, several factors separate Bueckers from her rookie peers:
1. Immediate Starting Role and Usage
While other rookies are working into their teams' rotations, Bueckers stepped immediately into a featured role with Dallas. The Wings built their offense around her from day one, trusting her with primary ball-handling duties and crucial late-game possessions.
2. Complete Skill Set
Many rookies excel in one area while struggling in others. Bueckers arrived in the WNBA as a finished product—she can score efficiently, create for teammates, and handle pressure situations with the poise of a veteran.
3. Franchise-Changing Potential
The Wings selected Bueckers not just as a talented player, but as someone who could transform their culture. Her UConn pedigree brought instant credibility and championship expectations to a franchise searching for its identity.
The UConn Effect: Why Success Was Predictable
Bueckers' early WNBA success shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with the University of Connecticut women's basketball program. The Huskies have produced more WNBA success stories than perhaps any other college program, and their system specifically prepares players for professional excellence.
Under Geno Auriemma's tutelage, UConn players learn to:
- Handle pressure situations through deep NCAA tournament runs
- Adapt to different roles as team needs change
- Maintain high basketball IQ through complex offensive and defensive systems
- Lead by example in a program with championship expectations
Former UConn stars like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and Maya Moore didn't just succeed in the WNBA—they defined it. Bueckers appears to be following the same trajectory, bringing the same combination of skill, intelligence, and competitive fire that made her predecessors legends.
The championship she helped deliver to UConn in 2025 only reinforced these qualities. Leading a team to a national title requires the exact type of leadership and clutch performance that translates directly to professional success.
Beyond Individual Accolades
While Rookie of the Year honors would cap an impressive start to Bueckers' professional career, her impact extends beyond individual recognition. The Wings selected her first overall with the hope that she could transform their franchise, and early returns suggest that investment was wise.
Dallas had struggled to find consistent success in recent years, but Bueckers' presence has already changed the team's trajectory. Her ability to create shots for teammates has elevated the play of veterans like Arike Ogunbowale, while her leadership has brought a new level of professionalism to the organization.
The broader WNBA has also benefited from Bueckers' arrival. Her college following has translated to increased viewership and attendance, part of a larger trend of rising interest in women's professional basketball. When a player with her profile succeeds immediately, it validates the league's growing stature.
The Road Ahead
With the WNBA season still in its early stages, Bueckers will face challenges that could test her Rookie of the Year candidacy. Teams will adjust their defensive schemes to limit her effectiveness, injuries could derail momentum, and the physical grind of a professional season differs from college basketball.
However, everything about her start suggests she's prepared for these obstacles. The mental toughness developed through injuries at UConn, the basketball IQ honed through years in Auriemma's system, and the championship experience gained in 2025 have equipped her with tools that most rookies lack.
Her 73% support among WNBA general managers before the season wasn't based on speculation—it reflected recognition of a unique talent whose college success virtually guaranteed professional excellence. Five games into her career, those predictions look conservative rather than optimistic.
The Verdict
Barring injury or an unexpected development, Paige Bueckers appears destined for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. Her combination of immediate impact, complete skill set, and championship pedigree from the University of Connecticut has created a perfect storm for professional success.
More importantly, her early WNBA performance validates everything college basketball fans believed about her potential. From that first Naismith Award as a UConn freshman to leading the Huskies to a championship as a senior, Bueckers has consistently risen to meet the highest expectations.
Now, those expectations have simply moved to a bigger stage. And if the first five games are any indication, Paige Bueckers is ready to exceed them once again.
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