Paige Bueckers on 2025 WNBA Draft Decision, 'I Thought I Declared a Long Time Ago'

Paige Bueckers officially declared for the WNBA draft last week, but the UConn star said Sunday that the decision was more of a formality and she thought she announced her draft intentions a while ago.

"Honestly, I thought I declared a long time ago, but I guess, re-announcing that," Bueckers told reporters. "Just loving the time here at UConn, being ready for the next journey, but not even focusing on that right now, just being present and right here with the team."

ESPN's Rebecca Lobo reported Bueckers' draft declaration last week, noting that there was some speculation that she would participate in the Unrivaled league and declare for the draft in 2026.

The news comes as Bueckers' Huskies prepare for an Elite Eight matchup against top-seeded USC, which is without JuJu Watkins after the star suffered a torn ACL earlier in the tournament.

Bueckers has been to the Final Four three times, including in 2022 when UConn reached the national championship game, and she's looking to get her team back there this year.

Bueckers joined the Huskies ahead of the 2020-21 season as one of the most-anticipated players in recent history. As a freshman, she put up 20 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game on her way to winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award.

Bueckers had a wrench thrown in her collegiate journey when she suffered a torn ACL and missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season, but she has since returned to being one of the best in the game.

This year, she's putting up 19.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game and is once again a finalist for the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year.

If Bueckers can end her career with a championship, she will have collected almost every achievement possible at the collegiate level.

Much like last year, there's a pretty obvious No. 1 pick in this year's draft class, and it's Bueckers. The Dallas Wings hold the top pick and will have the chance to select Bueckers as they look to turn things around following years of struggles.