WNBA Makes Paige Bueckers Announcement After 2nd Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Nov 5, 2026 11:05 AM ET

Paige Bueckers made significant progress in her second WNBA season, helping the Dallas Wings return to the playoffs after missing the postseason during her rookie year. The superstar guard averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 42 regular-season games. The Wings finished 27-17, secured the seventh seed and reached the first round, where they lost their series to eventual champions, the Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers also collected individual honors during the season, earning a second consecutive All-WNBA Second Team selection and making her first All-Star start.

With her second year now over, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick has received another major recognition, this time for her work away from the basketball court.

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5)Jerome Miron-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

The WNBA announced Thursday that Bueckers is the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. Established in 2008 and named after the Hall of Fame player, the honor recognizes a current WNBA player whose leadership, charitable work and commitment to serving others reflect Staley’s example.

Bueckers has supported several initiatives in Minnesota and Dallas. In her home state, she partnered with Gatorade to renovate a basketball court and donated $25,000 to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars.

Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers Earns 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award pic.twitter.com/IpNZuMhTep
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) November 5, 2026

She also organized a free basketball camp for 95 girls and funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School through her partnership with Goodr. In Dallas, she participated in the Wings’ Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas and mentored young athletes through the team’s Dream Team program.

As part of the recognition, the WNBA will donate $10,000 to Good Sports, a nonprofit selected by Bueckers that provides sports equipment, apparel and footwear to children in underserved communities.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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