Paige Bueckers was recognized for one final award after wrapping up her stellar senior year at the University of Connecticut. Following being selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings, Bueckers was awarded one more accolade. Paige took home the Honda Sports Award for her final collegiate season at UConn.
Paige Buckers Wins Honda Sports Award
The Honda Sports Award is an annual award in the U.S., given to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. The winners are selected in each of the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports by a panel of more than 1,000 NCAA administrators.
This isn’t the first time Bueckers was eligible for the Honda Sports Award though. She was nominated for the award for the 2023-24 season, but ultimately lost to Caitlin Clark.
Paige Bueckers captured one last accolade at UConn: The Honda Sports Award.
Given by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards, it’s presented to the top women’s athlete in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.
The last Husky to receive it was Breanna Stewart in 2016.
— Daniel Connolly (@DanielVConnolly) May 5, 2025
This is the 13th time a Husky has earned the Honda Sport Award for basketball: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Shea Ralph (2000), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003, ’04), Renee Montgomery (2009), Maya Moore (2009, ’10), Breanna Stewart (2014, ’15, ’16) and Bueckers (2025).
Can Paige Bueckers Follow Breanna Stewart’s Path?
UConn
Breanna Stewart’s resume at the University of Connecticut is dominant and record-breaking. She won four NCAA national championships and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player each year. She also holds individual records at UConn, including the all-time leader in blocked shots and second on the all-time scoring list.
Bueckers, in her final season at UConn, led the Huskies to an undefeated Big East season (18–0), a Big East Tournament championship, and an NCAA national title. Bueckers averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in her final season.
Bueckers and Stewart help add to the legacy of the UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball team. The Huskies are the most successful women’s basketball program in the nation, winning a record 12 NCAA Nation Championships and a women’s record four in a row, from 2013 through 2016.
WNBA
While Stewart had an incredible season at UConn, her WNBA career is nothing short of spectacular, either. Stewart has earned numerous accolades in the WNBA, including two MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards, and three WNBA championships. She was also named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2016 and has been selected to the WNBA All-Star team six times.
Paige Bueckers has some big shoes to fill in the WNBA if she wants to follow the career path of another UConn great, but she is off to a strong start. In the 2016 WNBA draft, the Seattle Storm selected Breanna Stewart as the No. 1 overall pick.
Paige Bueckers was similarly the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, yet it remains to be seen if she can emulate some of the accolades Breanna Stewart has obtained professionally. The Dallas Wings are banking on Bueckers’ talent and ability to help them secure their first championship in Dallas.