“A huge momentum-building moment”—that’s how the Dallas Wings described signing Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The franchise is banking on Bueckers to be more than just a star—they’re counting on her to be the spark that drives them back to where they believe they belong: at the top of the league.
Back in their Detroit Shock days, the franchise was a powerhouse—winning the WNBA title three times and making the playoffs in 8 of their 12 seasons before relocating and becoming the Tulsa Shock. Fast forward over a decade, and they were staring down an embarrassing 9-31 finish. The Wings turned their management and their roster upside down. They brought in veteran coach Curt Miller as general manager and also plucked USC assistant Chris Koclanes to take the helm as head coach.
Can all these changes bring instant success? This national analyst says no. When asked whether LA and Dallas, Seerat Sohi said in her The Ringer podcast, “I highly doubt it. I don’t see it happening.” She further said,“Dallas, LA. I don’t see them finishing in the top five. I just don’t see it. I think the top five is going to be very, very difficult to get into. I think the top four teams are basically a lock. And then I think you have probably the Seattle Storm, who I see as potentially being a team that can sneak in there.”
Let’s just get this out of the way—on paper, the Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, and New York Liberty are the consensus top four. No particular order, just four absolute powerhouses. Between them, you’re talking about MVPs, rookies with superstar ceilings, and rosters that are oozing with championship DNA. Each one has the grit, depth, and sheer firepower to go all the way.
The real debate starts at No. 5. Do you go with the Seattle Storm, who’ve quietly built a squad with the potential to explode? We are talking the Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magebegor duo, the core-designated defensive powerhouse Gabby Williams, and a confident Skylar Diggins saying, “everything that I wanted to use it [camp] for came to fruition.”
Or maybe the Atlanta Dream, a team right on the cusp with a serious hunger to break into the top tier? Then you’ve got the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics—both in a rebuild, sure, but packed with young talent. If their pieces fall into place, either one could punch above their weight and surprise everyone come playoff time. But Dallas?
Paige Bueckers excited to help build the foundation for Dallas
It was clear for a long time that Paige Bueckers was going to be the No. 1 draft pick and then the Dallas Wings picked the lottery to have that draft. There were several reports that she might go back to UConn for another season, that she might skip the draft or even refuse to play for the franchise because she hated Dallas. WNBA journalist Howard Medgal asserted on the Hoffman Women’s Sports show that Paige Bueckers was “going to go full Eli Manning.”
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Manning controversy is well known. After being the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft for the Chargers, he just outright refused to play for them, leading to a trade to the Giants. Inferring that a similar action could be taken by Bueckers for the Wings. Now she has cleared the air regarding her preference. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, Bueckers did not shy away from sending a message about the narrative that she does not want to play out.
“I’m glad you asked, because like you said, everybody has their own narratives and stuff they thought could be true, but I don’t think anybody actually heard it from my mouth,” Bueckers said. “But I was excited for Dallas. It’s just an opportunity to do something new… so to be able to start new and build this new foundation this year… embracing a new city that has shown a lot of love.”
Despite having their struggles in recent years, Dallas will be a good team to grow in for Bueckers. They are in the same stage as her, rebuilding and growing into the league again. Just like UConn, the system here could be centered around her. So rather than going into a team that already has a solid core, where she would get fewer minutes, she gets the full experience of being the point woman for her team. She herself recognized that.
“I’m extremely excited for it, I was extremely excited for it. I also wasn’t really focused on it at the time, in the moment. But now that it’s true and it’s coming to fruition, there was never a doubt.”
Even if it’s not immediately this season, Bueckers could be the trampoline that jumps the Wings back to the top.
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