When it rains for Paige Bueckers, it pours gold. Just days before the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft hears her name called, the UConn legend has already cashed in big time.
Bueckers has signed a groundbreaking multi-year deal with Unrivaled, the rising 3-on-3 league that’s turning heads and cutting serious checks. Sources told ESPN that her first-year salary in the league will eclipse what she’d make in four full years on a WNBA rookie deal. Yeah, you read that right.
A Power Move for Unrivaled and a Lucrative Deal for Paige Bueckers
Unrivaled just went full juggernaut mode. After a booming first season that saw the league rake in over $27 million in revenue, doubling investor projections, it’s clear they’re not just here to exist. They’re here to dominate. Co-founded in 2023 by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league is making it loud and clear: Elite women’s hoopers deserve elite pay.
Rather than expanding teams or flooding the league with quantity, Unrivaled is all about quality, high-level talent, unmatched resources, and financial empowerment. Signing Bueckers is the crown jewel. She’s not just a college phenom or a projected top pick; she’s a brand, a walking bucket, and the face of women’s hoops heading into the next era.
Oh, and don’t forget: Bueckers already had skin in the game. She inked a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Unrivaled while still balling at UConn, which reportedly included equity in the league. Now, she’s cashing in while still prepping for her WNBA debut. That’s next-level hustle.
What This Means for the WNBA and Dallas
If there was any doubt about Bueckers’ pro-ready game, you’ve got another thing coming. Her final year at UConn speaks for itself, as she averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting a scorching 53.4% from the field and nearly 42% from 3. She also helped UConn bring home its 12th Division I title, finally checking off the only box left in her college statsheet.
The Dallas Wings, who hold the top pick, are already dreaming of what life with Bueckers could look like. She’s got that franchise-star glow, the skill, the poise, and now, the business savvy to match.
While her WNBA salary might max out around $78,831 in Year 1, Unrivaled is helping level the playing field. This deal is part of a bigger movement: Giving women’s basketball its well-earned spotlight and securing its stars the financial backing they’ve always deserved.
And with Unrivaled eyeing more power moves, including targeting Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson. This may just be the beginning of something major. One thing’s for sure: Bueckers just set the tone.