The Dallas Wings finally won the 2026 WNBA draft lottery after much speculation, which puts them in a strong position to select the best talent from the class and develop a strategy around the new addition. The franchise did the same for its 2025 WNBA top pick, Paige Buckers, who remains its focal point for future developments.
WNBA Rookie of the Year Bueckers had an excellent first season in the league, which not only increased the popularity of the team and the game but also attracted even more sponsors and lucrative deals for the superstar guard. She recently signed a fresh contract with the CarMax Brand, which is looking to reposition itself with a new identity and new representations.
Paige Bueckers Signs Deal With CarMax
The former UConn star was one of the highest-earning college athletes via NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, which include partnerships with Nike and Gatorade. Now she signs a fresh CarMax deal after her transition to the WNBA. According to Marketing Brew’s interview with CMO Sarah Lan, the car service needed a rebrand and targeted the basketball stars for the same.
On the deal, the 2025 rookie said, “Partnering with CarMax is such an incredible opportunity. I’ve always admired how CarMax celebrates WNBA athletes and ensures our personalities shine through their ads, so being part of that roster of basketball stars is such an honor. I loved that this campaign both celebrated my new life in Texas and showed how CarMax’s technology and flexible options make buying a car so easy.”
INBOX: Paige Bueckers, alongside Donovan Mitchell, has signed a multi-year partnership with @CarMax. “Partnering with CarMax is such an incredible opportunity,” said Bueckers. “I’ve always admired how CarMax celebrates WNBA athletes and ensures our personalities shine through… pic.twitter.com/qlJxmCorX5
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) November 17, 2025
“Basketball just continues to be a place that’s important to culture. It’s young, it’s modern, it’s where culture starts, and aligning the brand next to that helps us to look and feel more modern and connected to culture,” CMO Lane said in the interview with Marketing Brew.
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The brand is looking to capitalise on the WNBA’s current wave of popularity and also targets NBA stars like Donovan Mitchell for its new campaign – “Wanna Drive?”
The marketing officer made his views clear on the campaign, mentioning that it has a little spark that’s an invitation, playfulness, and a play on words. He added that the likes of Bueckers and Mitchell really add the hope that CarMax will appeal to a casual audience.
Just like CarMax, the USA women’s basketball team is also looking to refresh its lineup for the upcoming FIBA event, adding many young stars to its possible roster.
Paige Bueckers Among Multiple WNBA Stars Earning Call For Senior National Team Training
One thing that remains constant is change, and Team USA Women’s basketball is also looking to freshen up its lineup for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. The recent official announcement for the training camp names includes many young WNBA stars who were not part of the Olympic team.
The 🇺🇸 #USABWNT Is Back‼️
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) November 24, 2025
18 athletes will attend training camp Dec. 12-14 in Durham, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/qp4lK9rOXq
PB is one of those names that had an excellent rookie season, along with Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. The Indiana Fever duo, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, also earn a place in the training camp, while Angel Reese gets her first national call-up. Another name that stood out was Veronica Burton, who also earned the first-ever USA Basketball call-up.
Although the new coach aims to add a fresh pair of legs to the team, she has kept a few Olympians and champions on the roster, thereby balancing the experience level.