Paige Bueckers' trophy case is getting crowded. Fresh off winning the 2025 Rookie of the Year, the Dallas Wings star just added another major honor. Her celebration involved a dominant performance for Team USA.

Named after the Indiana Fever legend, the award is presented to the player who "best combines excellence on the court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and public."

Paige Bueckers matched all the requirements as just the third player to win the award, joining Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson. The UConn graduate wasted no time entering the league as the No.1 overall draft pick and quickly became the face of the Dallas franchise.

She averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists with a field goal percentage of 47.7. Alongside the Rookie of the Year, she was included in the All-WNBA second team and the All-Rookie team as well. Her prominent role in the first season of Unrivaled also drew more attention to the league.

"First of all, very grateful, I know how much the media does for the game of basketball and how much it pushes the narratives and gets us out there, nationally and globally, and so I really appreciate it," Bueckers said in a recorded statement.

"As much as us players sometimes don’t want to do it after — win or loss, we’ve got to take it on the chin — it’s a part of basketball, and it’s part of growing the game. So I’m very grateful for everybody in the media and everybody who helps push this game." She added.

Alysha Clark, Satou Sabally, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, and Sabrina Ionescu were the other nominees for the award.

But Paige Bueckers proved why she deserved the award more than anyone else in her most recent game with Team USAB in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Paige Bueckers Dominates Host Nation in a Convincing Win

The Dallas star played spoiler to Puerto Rico's sold-out crowd in the El Cholí stadium as the hosts never gained the upper hand over the USA.

Bueckers led her team with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in her first game as a starter for Team USAB, alongside Kiki Iriafen and Monique Billings.

“I thought the game was a little clunky. We probably didn’t play our best. I thought Paige played really well.” Caitlin Clark, who cooled off a bit from yesterday's performance (8 points in 18 minutes), told the Indianapolis Star.

Team USAB cruised to a 91-48 win, backed by Bueckers's brilliant offensive play and strong team chemistry. They're now 11-1 against Puerto Rico in senior competition. They now enjoy a day off until tomorrow, when they will be back on the hardwood against Italy as their third game of the qualifiers.

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar