The Dallas Wings’ season of 2025 was a huge letdown, given the team they had surrounding the 2025 number one pick, Paige Bueckers. The rookie performer kept flourishing throughout the season, attempting to move them up to a top-eight position. But inconsistency among teammates gave them the bottom position in the league table.
At the conclusion of the regular season, individual award winners were confirmed by the league, and Paige Bueckers was declared Rookie of the Year. Her teammate, Arike Ogunbowale, responded to the announcement.
Arike Ogunbowale Reacts To Paige Bueckers’ Rookie Of The Year Award
The 2025 number one pick swept the ROY by a landslide margin, grabbing 70 out of 72 votes. WNBA fans outraged as Bueckers falls two votes short of Unanimous Rookie Of The Year award. But the win was not surprising, and the veteran point guard was sure of it. During the 2025 season, the backcourt duo came up with 2165 points and 314 assists for the Wings. Even though the team fell to last position in the standings, the duo remained the top offensive force in the league.
The former UConn phenom paced the team in offensive numbers and also provided significant support on defense. As compared to other rookies, her sterling statistics and records have already given her a leg up in the ROY competition.
When the league announced its victor, Ogunbowale posted the picture and bluntly added, “DUH!” indicating an easy choice for the award.
Averaging more than 19 points and five assists per contest, the star was one of the league’s elites in the 2025 season. She even started an All-Star game. The 22-year-old was the only player in the top seven lists for assists and scoring. And she also broke the franchise record for points, assists, and double-doubles.
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Bueckers earned a spot alongside Caitlin Clark as the only other WNBA player on the iconic rookie record. Winning the ROY award, she matched another CC stat. She thanked fans and players in a unique way.
Paige Bueckers Reacts To Winning Rookie Of The Year Award
PB is a team player, and even though she won the accolade, she didn’t forget to thank her team for the support. Thanking everyone for the award, she mentioned that the Wings players deserve the teammates of the year. She shared a post on Instagram for the accolade she won.
“Thank you God for an amazing rookie year. Process over results. Unconditional joy and gratitude, so much to be thankful for. Love my squad, they all deserve Teammates of the Year in my book, nothing is possible without them. Now let’s keep on keeping on. Go wings!” Bueckers wrote in her post.
The player has strong and close relations with her teammates including veteran stars like DiJonai Carrington, Arike Ogunbowale and NaLyssa Smith to young stars like Li Yueru.