Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Wings Guard Paige Bueckers Named 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Following Historic Season

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Wings’ guard Paige Bueckers has been officially named the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year. With this, she became the first player to earn the honors with Dallas since Allisha Gray in 2017. Bueckers was selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Drafts. Within no time, she established herself as one of the most dynamic rookies the league has ever seen.

She received 70 of 72 media votes for the award, while Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron received the other two votes. During her debut campaign, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 33.3 minutes across 36 appearances. In fact, she led all rookies in total points (692), points per game, total assists (194), and assists per game.

Paige Bueckers in 2025:

⭐ 19.2 PPG
⭐ 5.4 APG
⭐ 3.9 RPG
⭐ 1.6 SPG
⭐ Rookie-record 44-point game on 81% FG

Your 2025 WNBA @Kia Rookie of the Year 👑
#KiaROY | #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/oxBCJzwGUc
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 16, 2025

There are a number of records that the former UConn star broke in her rookie season. Apart from being the first ROTY in WNBA history to win less than 10 games, she is the only player to have ranked in top 10 across points, assists, and steals per game. The 2025 WNBA All-Star has also scored at least 10 points in each of her first 30 games. It is the fourth-longest streak to begin a career in the WNBA.

Paige Bueckers is officially the 2025 Rookie of the Year 🏆

📸@WNBA pic.twitter.com/bV5uL4c3hH
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) September 16, 2025

Bueckers also became the fastest rookie to reach 500+ points and 150+ dimes. She was named Rookie of the Month thrice during the season. The Minnesota-native will receive a trophy and $5,150 to commemorate the honors.

Paige Bueckers Joins Elite Company of Diana Taurasi with Rookie of the Year Award

The 23-year-old has joined the elite company of her mentor and Phoenix Mercury legend Diania Taurasi as she won the ROTY Award. She is now one of the only five players in WNBA history to win an NCAA title, become the No. 1 overall draft pick, and earn ROTY honors within the same year. Apart from her and Taurasi, the other four players in the elite list are New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles, and Tennessee legend Candace Parker.

With Bueckers’ win, the University of Connecticut became the first ever school to produce both the NBA and WNBA Rookie of the Year in the same season. Notably, San Antonio Spurs’ guard Stephon Castle was named the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year.

WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Winners Over Seasons

Here is a complete list of the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award winners over the years.

1998 – Tracy Reid, Charlotte
1999 – Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington
2000 – Betty Lennox, Minnesota
2001 – Jackie Stiles, Portland
2002 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2003 – Cheryl Ford, Detroit
2004 – Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
2005 – Temeka Johnson, Washington
2006 – Seimone Augustus, Minnesota
2007 – Armintie Price, Chicago
2008 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2009 – Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta
2010 – Tina Charles, Connecticut
2011 – Maya Moore, Minnesota
2012 – Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles
2013 – Elena Delle Donne, Chicago
2014 – Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut
2015 – Jewell Loyd, Seattle
2016 – Breanna Stewart, Seattle
2017 – Allisha Gray, Dallas
2018 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2019 – Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
2020 – Crystal Dangerfield, Minnesota
2021 – Michaela Onyenwere, New York
2022 – Rhyne Howard, Atlanta
2023 – Aliyah Boston, Indiana
2024 – Caitlin Clark, Indiana
2025 – Paige Bueckers, Dallas

2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year

Paige Bueckeers

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.