Paige Bueckers Drafted No. 1 by WNBA Dallas Wings/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ UConn star Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings after leading the Huskies to their 12th national title. The draft featured standout international and collegiate talent, including French phenom Dominique Malonga and Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron. The event marked a new chapter for rising stars and a historic first pick for expansion team Golden State.
Paige Bueckers Picked First by Dallas Wings – Quick Looks
- No. 1 Pick: UConn’s Paige Bueckers joins Dallas Wings
- Historic Moment: Becomes sixth Husky to go No. 1 overall
- French Breakthrough: Dominique Malonga selected second by Seattle
- Star-Studded Draft: Notre Dame’s Citron, USC’s Iriafen follow
- Golden State Debuts: Valkyries pick Juste Jocyte as first in franchise history
- Russell Westbrook Collaboration: Amoore stuns in custom NBA-star outfit
- International Talent Rises: Multiple players from Europe drafted
- WNBA Expansion & Movement: Six teams absent from first round
Paige Bueckers Drafted No. 1 by WNBA Dallas Wings
Deep Look
NEW YORK — Paige Bueckers’ dream week reached new heights Monday night as she was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, just days after leading UConn to a national championship.
The 22-year-old guard, who returned from injury this season to help secure UConn’s 12th title, now joins a long list of Huskies legends like Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart who have gone first in the draft.
“I’m just extremely excited,” Bueckers said. “It’s a fresh start, and I know we’re going to do something special in Dallas.”
A Whirlwind Week for Bueckers
“Part of me wants to stay at school… and the other part of me has to get ready for the next chapter,” she said.
Bueckers was surrounded by UConn teammates and her coach Geno Auriemma at the draft, getting emotional as she paid tribute to the people who helped her reach the WNBA.
Dominique Malonga Selected Second
The Seattle Storm selected 6-foot-6 French center Dominique Malonga with the second overall pick. The 19-year-old was part of the French national team’s silver medal run and becomes the highest French draft pick in nearly three decades.
“It showed that French basketball has evolved,” said Malonga, referencing the global success of Victor Wembanyama and other French stars.
Other First-Round Highlights
- Washington Mystics selected Sonia Citron (Notre Dame) at No. 3 and Kiki Iriafen (USC) at No. 4, showcasing their strategy to rebuild with young, versatile talent.
- Georgia Amoore (Kentucky) went sixth, turning heads in a custom outfit designed by NBA star Russell Westbrook. “To have a contact like that now is amazing,” Amoore said.
- Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s new expansion team, made their first franchise pick by drafting Juste Jocyte of Lithuania.
- Connecticut Sun snagged LSU’s Aneesah Morrow at No. 7 and NC State’s Saniya Rivers at No. 8.
- LA Sparks selected Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9.
- Chicago Sky picked Ajsa Sivka (Slovenia) and Hailey Van Lith (TCU) back-to-back.
- The Dallas Wings closed out the first round by drafting NC State’s Aziah James.
Absent Teams and League Disciplinary Action
Six teams were without first-round picks due to trades or disciplinary measures:
- Las Vegas Aces forfeited their pick due to a 2023 league investigation into impermissible benefits and workplace violations.
- New York, Indiana, Minnesota, Phoenix, and Atlanta had previously traded away their draft rights.
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