As the 2025 WNBA Draft approaches, UConn women’s basketball sensation Paige Bueckers is anticipated to be the top overall selection. However, before she steps onto the WNBA court, she will be participating in another professional basketball league. It was revealed on Friday that Paige Bueckers will be joining the newly established Unrivaled basketball league, and she took to social media to express her views on this decision.
“I feel blessed and thankful to be part of this incredible league,” Bueckers shared on social media. “Taking an active role in advancing women’s sports is a dream realized. Looking forward to the future; this is just the start!”
The fresh Unrivaled league will be a 3×3 basketball league, providing an alternative for WNBA players who typically play overseas during the WNBA off-season. This league is co-founded by New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
Currently, the athletes confirmed to participate in the league include Kahleah Copper, Angel Reese, Kelsey Plum, Arise Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, Rhyne Howard, Jewell Loyd, and Chelsea Gray. The league is slated to take place in Miami, Florida, with its inaugural games set to commence in January 2025, coinciding with the prime off-season for the WNBA.
The announcement regarding Paige Bueckers joining Unrivaled is particularly noteworthy as she becomes the first active non-WNBA player to commit to the league.
Paige Bueckers has outstanding objectives at UConn before heading to the WNBA
When Paige Bueckers joins Unrivaled, it will occur following the 2024 WNBA Draft. Bueckers is currently the strong frontrunner for the number one overall pick. Although she had the chance to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft, she chose to return to UConn for an additional year of eligibility.
Bueckers has been among the elite players in college basketball, but one achievement still eludes her: an NCAA championship. In the previous season, UConn made it to the Final Four before being defeated by Iowa. Bueckers has also made an impressive recovery from several injuries.
In the last season, she participated in 39 games, averaging just over 31 minutes on the court per game. She recorded a personal best of 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 blocked shots, with shooting percentages of 53 percent from the field, 41.6 percent from beyond the three-point line, and 83.4 percent from the free-throw line.
As the Olympic break approaches, the WNBA teams currently with the best chances of acquiring the No. 1 pick and potentially selecting Bueckers include the Dallas Wings, the Washington Mystics, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the Atlanta Dream.
Image Source: Paige Bueckers @ Instagram
