ESPN Panel Unanimously Predicts Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers as Rookie of the Year

Grant AfsethSeptember 11, 2025September 11, 2025no comment

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers continues to stack accolades in her debut season, earning WNBA Rookie of the Month for August while also being projected by ESPN as the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Bueckers became just the 10th player in league history — and the first in Wings franchise history — to win Rookie of the Month three times. She averaged 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 10 games during August, leading all rookies in both scoring and assists while ranking fourth among all WNBA players in scoring. She shot 49.7% from the field, 93.6% from the free-throw line, and added 1.2 steals.

Her month was highlighted by a record-setting performance on Aug. 20 at Los Angeles, where she scored 44 points to break the WNBA’s single-game rookie scoring record. She went 17-of-21 from the field, becoming the first player in league history to record a 40-point game on 80% shooting.

ESPN Panel Unanimously Picks Paige Bueckers

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick has averaged 19.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for the season. That production placed her firmly at the top of ESPN’s Rookie of the Year forecast, where all four panelists — Kendra Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou, and Michael Voepel — voted for Bueckers as their choice.

“For as difficult as the season has been for the Wings, the future is bright with Bueckers at the helm of the franchise,” Philippou wrote. “Her 2025 campaign stands out historically compared to other rookie seasons in W history and among her peers in the league this summer.”

Sonia Citron is ESPN’s Runner-Up

Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron was named runner-up in ESPN’s projections. Citron has averaged 15.0 points per game on 47.2% shooting, including 44.3% from 3-point range, while establishing herself as a versatile perimeter defender.

“In most seasons, Citron’s performance would be enough to secure Rookie of the Year,” Philippou added, noting her expanded role after the Mystics traded Brittney Sykes in August. “She can be the go-to player and will be a fantastic building block for Washington as it continues a rebuild.”

The official Rookie of the Year winner will be determined by a panel of media voters at the conclusion of the season, but Bueckers’ combination of scoring milestones, efficiency, and consistency has already cemented her as one of the brightest young stars in the league.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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