The winner of the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes has been determined.
The Dallas Wings were named the winners of the WNBA draft lottery, earning the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft and paving the way for the team to draft the UConn star.
Dallas had the second best chance to win the lottery − the Los Angeles Sparks were first − but the Wings had their odds boosted because they had the right to swap their own first-round pick with the Chicago Sky’s own first-round pick. The pick swap boosted Dallas’ chances to get the first pick, and it paved the way to securing the top selection.
Much like how Caitlin Clark was undoubtedly going to be the No. 1 pick in last year’s WNBA draft, this year’s edition is expected to have a clear-choice at the top with Bueckers. The Huskies guard was the top high school prospect in her recruiting class prior to college and she has lived up to the expectations in Storrs, Connecticut. Bueckers was named the AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year in 2021 after a breakout freshmen season, but injuries limited her next two seasons.
Now, Bueckers is in her senior season with the Huskies and is expected to continue to be one of the top players in the sport. She’s averaging 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 88 career games at UConn. Bueckers does still have one season of eligibility left after this current campaign, but she is expected to turn pro after this season.
Dallas has yet to hire a new head coach since it parted ways with Latricia Trammell after this past season, but whoever takes over will get the top pick to start their tenure.
2025 WNBA draft order
Dallas Wings
Los Angeles Sparks
Chicago Sky
Washington Mystics
Golden State Valkyries
Washington Mystics from Atlanta Dream via Dallas Wings
Phoenix Mercury*
Indiana Fever
Seattle Storm
Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun
Minnesota Lynx
New York Liberty*
*New York has the right to swap its own first-round pick for Phoenix’s own first-round pick.
When is the 2025 WNBA draft?
The 2025 WNBA draft will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, just more than a week after the women’s college basketball national championship game.
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