Paige Bueckers lived up to the billing of being a generational superstar by winning the Rookie of the Year honors. The Dallas Wings star went past her competition, Sonia Citron, and won by a 70-2 margin.
What was surprising was the way the announcement was made. Earlier on Tuesday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert made the surprise announcement on the ‘Jennifer Hudson Show.’
How Did Cathy Engelbert Surprise Paige Bueckers With ROTY Announcement?
In a clip that went viral on social media, Bueckers was met by Engelbert, who stood holding the MVP trophy. “I bet I’m the last person you expected to see in this tunnel,” the league head honcho said.
“But I’m here to present you with the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year award.” Bueckers was all smiles as she received the trophy and responded with a simple, but wholesome “thank you.”
The win now sees her join former Wings star Allisha Gray to win the honors for Dallas. Bueckers was a vital cog in the team’s plans as she took a starter role in all 36 appearances. She ended her season averaging a solid 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 33.3 minutes per game.
🗣️ “Rookie of the Year!” “Rookie of the Year!”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert presented Paige Bueckers with her ROY trophy on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
🎥 @JHudShow pic.twitter.com/iSa16SpZhW
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 16, 2025
Bueckers also broke Dallas’ rookie records and made history with her 44-point explosion against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 20 this season. Per The Athletic, the guard thanked her team for their support after winning the marquee award.
“I am very grateful for everyone who voted and saw me fit for Rookie of the Year,” Bueckers said. “I have always felt like individual awards are a way to acknowledge the team around you and that is exactly what this award means to me. My teammates, coaches, support staff and everyone from top to bottom in the entire Dallas Wings organization played a huge part in this.”
While Bueckers capped off her maiden WNBA season with the silverware, the Wings endured yet another disappointing season. They could only win 10 games this season and ended at the bottom of the standings. The dismal campaign also saw them fail to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
As for the former UConn star, expectations will be higher in her sophomore year when she turns up for the Wings. With the team reportedly looking to add some big names in the mix, it will be interesting to see if the Wings can pair Bueckers with a star name who can elevate them to playoff contenders.
