Even though the Dallas Wings’ disappointing season made headlines, Paige Bueckers earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team due to her individual brilliance. Similarly, her final year in the UConn program still had a significant impact on her resume, which now earned the Wings’ guard a place among the top 30 NCAA Women of the Year standouts.
The prestigious annual award is presented to the athlete making an impact both in and off the court, and they will receive the trophy in January during the NCAA Convention.
Paige Bueckers Received The NCAA Top 30 Women Of The Year
The 24-year-old celebrity had been one of the top recruits since she was in high school and started her pro career by earning the Rookie of the Year award. Now, from the second year, the former UConn player will be a seasoned professional. With that, there would be a last college-level award that she might earn, which is the NCAA Women of the Year.
As recently updated, PB is one of the final 30, which consists of 10 players in each division. Notably, the NCAA Champion is the sole basketball player in the top 30 list.
Although the star accumulated numerous individual accolades throughout her time at UConn, this award would be among the most prestigious of all for her and the program. Bueckers also became the first player in history to be chosen Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament three times and was named conference Player of the Year for the third time.
Congratulations to @paigebueckers1, named one of the Top 30 honorees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. 👏
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) October 22, 2025
This recognition celebrates female student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, and service.#NCAAWBB x #NCAAWOTY pic.twitter.com/m5uGeOdoGl
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Just two other basketball athletes have won the award in this category, with UConn’s Rebecca Lobo (1995 winner) and Tennessee’s Nicky Anosike (2008 winner) having previously received the award. PB can make history if she wins the coveted title.
Although UConn has given her all the recognitions, Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller is still upbeat on constructing around Paige Bueckers despite the underwhelming 2025 season. And PB’s old coach has some words for him.
Geno Auriemma Provides Special Advice To Dallas Wings Regarding Paige Bueckers
The UConn coach, Geno Auriemma, was in the interview during the Big East media day, where he spoke about the Dallas Wings’ situation. After finishing in last place in the 2025 season, the side needed multiple changes. The coach advocated that PB can make a decision for the franchise’s recruitment, including the coach.
“I told Paige this the other day: A great player can play for any coach—if they want to. Now, if they get a coach that doesn’t believe and doesn’t have a collaboration with Paige, then that would be a difficult journey,” Auriemma said.
“And it’s like recruiting. Recruit the person you want who has the qualities. But at the end of the day, whoever the coach is, you can make it work for them, or you can make it not work for them, provided there’s a good roster around you. So I think the roster is gonna be more important than the coach, even though the coach is crucial, obviously.“
The team is in talks with multiple top coaches and favorites to land elite superstars in the upcoming free agency. It will be interesting to see the developments in the coming months.