The WNBA draft lottery balls bounced the Dallas Wings’ way on Sunday, as the team secured the coveted No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The prize? A chance to select generational talent Paige Bueckers out of UConn and potentially transform their franchise overnight.
Heading into the lottery, the Los Angeles Sparks had the best odds at 44% to land the top selection. But in a stunning turn of events, it was Dallas who emerged victorious, despite having just a 22.7% chance. The Wings’ President and General Manager were elated as the results were announced.
Bueckers: A Franchise-Altering Prospect
Paige Bueckers is widely regarded as one of the best prospects to enter the WNBA in years. The 5’11” point guard has been a revelation at UConn, showcasing elite scoring ability, pinpoint passing, and a flair for the dramatic. Many scouts see her as a player who could make an immediate impact as a rookie and develop into a perennial All-Star.
For a Dallas Wings team that has struggled to gain traction since relocating from Tulsa in 2016, landing Bueckers could be a major turning point. The franchise has made the playoffs just twice in the past six seasons and has lacked a true face of the franchise. Bueckers has the talent and charisma to fill that void.
Sparks Miss Out, Sky Pick Third
The Sparks, who finished with the league’s worst record last season, will have to settle for the No. 2 pick. While missing out on Bueckers stings, there should still be plenty of talent available, including several of her UConn teammates. The Chicago Sky, who had a pick swap with Dallas from a prior trade, will select third.
Rounding out the lottery picks are the Washington Mystics at No. 4 and the expansion Golden State Valkyries at No. 5. The Mystics are in the midst of a head coaching and front office search, while Golden State will look to build its inaugural roster through the lottery and an expansion draft in December.
Recent Lottery Success Stories
The importance of hitting on high draft picks can’t be overstated. Just look at the success of the last two No. 1 overall selections:
- 2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever – Rookie of the Year
- 2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever – Rookie of the Year
Other potential 2025 lottery picks include Kiki Iriafen (Stanford), Olivia Miles (Notre Dame), and Lauren Betts (UCLA). But make no mistake – Bueckers is the crown jewel. After a dominant college career, she seems destined for WNBA stardom.
For Dallas, the pressure is now on to make Bueckers the top pick and build a contender around her. The Wings have missed on high picks before, like 2021 No. 1 choice Charli Collier who is already out of the league. They can’t afford a similar misstep this time.
The WNBA offseason just got a lot more interesting thanks to the draft lottery. All eyes will be on Dallas leading up to the 2025 draft as we wait to see if they tab Paige Bueckers as the future face of their franchise. No matter what, she seems poised to take the league by storm and dazzle fans with her electric game for years to come.
