Paige Bueckers was the unquestioned top prospect entering the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings were fortunate enough to win the Bueckers sweepstakes and land one of the most complete, league-ready prospects in recent memory. The hype surrounding Bueckers is at an all-time high after a dominant NCAA Tournament run that ended in a UConn national championship victory.
Tonight, Bueckers will make her WNBA debut, as the Dallas Wings open up the 2025 season at home against the Minnesota Lynx. How will she fare in her first pro outing? Let’s break down Bueckers’ game and look back at how some recent No. 1 overall picks performed in their first WNBA game.
What to Expect from Paige Bueckers in Her WNBA Debut
Bueckers’ well-rounded skill set was on full display during the 2024 NCAA Tournament. She averaged 24.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on the way to helping the Huskies win their first title since the 2015-16 season.
The three-time AP All-American selection is a polished three-level scorer who possesses exceptional court awareness and vision. She has also displayed the ability to take over games at any moment. Bueckers’Â size, skill, and intensity on the defensive end give her the tools to be a true two-way star at the next level.Â
Bueckers, unlike many No. 1 overall picks, has found herself in a promising situation. The Wings may have struggled in the 2024 season, but the front office was proactive this offseason, making smart moves to enhance the roster. Bueckers will team up in the backcourt with Arike Ogunbowale, a top-tier scorer who averaged 22.2 points per game in 2024. Additionally, with DiJonai Carrington on the roster as a standout wing defender, Bueckers will benefit from reduced pressure on the defensive end.
The new-look Wings do get a tough draw in the season opener, as the Lynx are one of the most complete teams in the WNBA and came razor close to winning the Finals. Going against proven stars like Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams will present a formidable challenge for Bueckers. However, it’s not one she’s unfamiliar with, having competed against elite competition throughout her college career.
Expectations for Bueckers will be high, especially as she takes over as the starting point guard for a Wings team looking to expedite its turnaround. She may experience the usual rookie struggles early on, but her performance in the preseason suggests she’s more than up for the challenge. Given the talent around her and her all-around skill level and superstar upside, don’t be surprised if she hits the ground running from the opening tip.
Debut Performances of the Last 10 No. 1 Overall Picks
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
WNBA Debut (@ Sun):Â 20 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 threes, 33.3% FG
Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA with a similar hype as Bueckers, and she certainly didn’t disappoint. Coming off a historic college career at the University of Iowa, Clark shined in her first professional game — dropping 20 points against a talented Connecticut Sun team.
While she wasn’t very efficient in that game, she proved she could get buckets against proven competition at the WNBA level. It was just the beginning of what ended up being a stellar rookie campaign, as Clark won Rookie of the Year honors and earned an All-WNBA selection.
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
WNBA Debut (vs. Sun): 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 60% FG
Aliyah Boston was a highly decorated college star at South Carolina — an NCAA champion, four-time AP All-American, Wooden Award winner, and Naismith Award winner. Even though the Fever lost her debut, Boston made her presence felt in 24 minutes of action.
She was the team’s second-leading scorer on the night, behind Kelsey Mitchell. Her performance was impressive, especially against a veteran frontcourt of DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones. Boston finished 11th in MVP voting and won Rookie of the Year.
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
WNBA Debut (@ Wings):Â 16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 threes, 2 steals, 4 blocks, 26.7% FG
Rhyne Howard entered the WNBA known for her effortless scoring ability. The 2019 National Freshman of the Year and two-time SEC Player of the Year averaged 20.1 points for her career at Kentucky. That knack for putting the ball in the bucket was on display in her professional debut.
Her efficiency numbers left much to be desired, though, as she shot less than 30% from the field. She did most of her damage from behind the arc (12 of her 15 shot attempts were threes). Howard would go on to win Rookie of the Year in 2022.
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings
WNBA Debut (@ Sparks): 11 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 66.7% FG
Charli Collier is, unfortunately, the most recent No. 1 overall draft pick who did not pan out in the WNBA. However, she had a strong outing in her first game with the Wings. The Texas Longhorns product played 26 minutes and recorded a double-double in a 23-point rout of the Sparks. However, she was unable to sustain that level of play for the rest of her rookie year, scoring in double figures just three more times. Collier is now out of the league.
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
WNBA Debut (vs. Storm):Â 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 23.5% FG
Sabrina Ionescu was a bona fide star for the Oregon Ducks. A three-time AP All-American and two-time Wooden Award winner, she entered the WNBA with lofty expectations. Her New York Liberty debut had some highs and some lows.
She proved that she was capable of impacting the game in more ways than just scoring. However, like many rookies, she struggled with efficiency early on. She went 0-8 from deep, but she bounced back with a 33-point explosion the following game. Unfortunately, an ankle injury cut Ionescu’s rookie campaign short after just three games.
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
WNBA Debut (vs. Sparks): 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 100% FG
Jackie Young’s WNBA debut was relatively quiet, with just eight points and not much of an impact elsewhere on the box score. The Las Vegas Aces guard was extremely efficient, though, connecting on each of her four shot attempts.
After a slow start to her career, Young showed improvements in her development in each of the following seasons. Now, she’s a three-time All-Star and one of the most respected guards in the game.
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
WNBA Debut (@ Sun): 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 23.1% FG
Before A’ja Wilson became the best player in the WNBA, she put together one of the most dominant college careers ever while playing at South Carolina. A four-time All-American and three-time SEC Player of the Year, Wilson didn’t miss a beat in her transition to the pros.
She recorded a double-double against the Sun in her first game with the Aces and showed off her defensive prowess as well. Like others on this list, Wilson didn’t shoot well from the field. But one Rookie of the Year, three MVPs, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards later, it’s safe to say she turned out alright.
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars
WNBA Debut (vs. Wings): 4 points, 1 assist, 5 turnovers, 40% FG
Kelsey Plum was drafted by the San Antonio Stars, which would eventually be relocated to Las Vegas and become the Aces. Plum, who became one of the best players in the country during her time at Washington, had a quiet first game as a professional.
She played just 12 minutes and had more turnovers than points. Those pedestrian numbers would not be indicative of her WNBA career, as she made the All-Rookie Team, notched three All-Star nods, and helped lead the Aces to two titles.
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
WNBA Debut (@ Sparks): 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 69.2% FG
It’s pretty difficult to top Breanna Stewart’s debut with the Seattle Storm. She scored 23 points while shooting nearly 70% from the field. She didn’t make either of her two three-point attempts, but she showed that she wasn’t afraid to establish herself as a player capable of stretching the floor.
Stewart has delivered on the excitement she generated coming out of UConn, where she won four national championships and AP Player of the Year in three straight seasons. Now, she’s one of the best the sport has to offer.
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
WNBA Debut (vs. Sparks): 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 20% FG
Jewell Loyd was a productive player at Notre Dame and transitioned well to the professional game. Her WNBA debut wasn’t off the charts by any means, scoring just seven points in 28 minutes. She also shot the ball poorly.
However, what stood out was that Loyd wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, grabbing seven boards despite not having elite size for the guard position. Loyd went on to win Rookie of the Year. She also has six All-Star selections and two championships under her belt. You don’t get the “Gold Mamba” nickname from Kobe Bryant for no reason.
