For Paige Bueckers, basketball was a dream she began chasing at the age of five. From shooting hoops in her backyard to watching games in Minnesota with wide-eyed wonder, her passion only grew stronger. “I just feel like I’m living out my childhood dreams and I just pinch myself sometimes,” she once said, and it’s easy to see why. Yet, reaching the WNBA doesn’t mean the dream is complete. Bueckers hasn’t slowed down, and at last, the league is beginning to recognize the efforts behind her journey.

Paige Bueckers outperformed every projection in her debut season, earning Rookie of the Year honors with 70 of 72 first-place votes. However, officially named the 2025 ROTY on September 17, the Dallas Wings star didn’t accept the award in a typical way. The award was presented by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert when PB took the runway for The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Naturally, when PB appeared on the show, the host asked how she felt, to which ROTY 2025 admitted, “I was really nervous. I struggled to catch my rhythm sometimes.” Well, that’s because when she received the award, she walked down the tunnel with the staff dancing while singing the song, “Paige Bueckers at J Hud, shooting buckets, she’s the one.” In response, PB danced her way down the hall and realized the Commissioner was there to present the ROTY hardware. So, the comment about syncing made some sense.

But, it seems her comments aren’t just limited to dance. While some rookies take months, even years, to adjust to the pace of the league, PB needed only a few possessions. Just consider her first regular-season game: she put in 10 points despite playing 30 minutes.

From the start, Paige Bueckers played well beyond her years. She topped all rookies in both scoring (19.2 points per game) and assists (5.4), while also ranking second in steals (1.58), fourth in field-goal percentage (.477), and seventh in rebounds (3.9). Across the entire league, she stood alone as the only player to finish inside the top nine in points (5th), assists (9th), and steals (6th).

Her debut season was also historic in context: Bueckers’ 692 points and 194 assists each ranked third all-time for a rookie in WNBA history. She opened her career with 30 consecutive double-figure scoring games, a streak surpassed only by A’ja Wilson’s 33 in 2018 and Candace Parker’s 32 in 2008. On the strength of that resume, she secured a place on the WNBA All-Rookie Team, joining Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen from Washington, Dominique Malonga of Seattle, and Janelle Salaün of Golden State.

What makes her accomplishments stand out even more is the context. Bueckers delivered these performances while her team battled through a season full of setbacks, finishing with the league’s worst record at 10–34. It was in that environment that she proved her value to the WNBA. Though, of course, she didn’t carry the load entirely on her own.

The Dallas Wings had fueled PB’s rise.

Before PB was named ROTY, it was her head coach, Chris Koclanes, who crowned her as one. Well, that’s because the coach had witnessed PB’s growth firsthand. So, when asked about how she sees her Rookie of the Year award, Bueckers didn’t hold back.

She said, “Just like a whole lot of hard work and a whole lot of faith went into that. And it takes a village. I’ve always felt like individual accomplishments are really team acknowledgments. So to everybody around me who’s helped me get to this point, I feel like it’s a testament to them.”

And yes, it all makes sense, especially since her team has always backed her up. They’ve stood beside her when she got injured and tried to serve the level she’s used to. At first, it was Ogunbowale who provided leadership and mentorship that helped PB transition to the pros.

Then it was former Dallas Wings star DiJonai Carrington, whose defensive prowess and versatility complemented PB’s offensive skills, allowing dynamic plays and strategic rotations. But it wasn’t just two of them—the entire coaching staff and players appreciated PB whenever needed.

And PB, in return, took leadership of the locker room too. Every time players needed acknowledgment or motivation, she was there for them. So, yes, that’s how the year unfolded for the Wings and Paige Bueckers. But while the season ended amid criticism for the low ranking, the team’s got next year. So, what do you think will happen?