Who Is Paige Bueckers?
Paige Bueckers is an American professional basketball player who plays as a guard for the Dallas Wings in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She rose to prominence as one of the most celebrated college basketball players in the United States before being selected with the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
She has attracted public interest through her relationship with fellow professional basketball player Azzi Fudd, her endorsement opportunities and her growing influence among young basketball fans.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Paige Madison Bueckers
- Date of Birth: October 20, 2001
- Age: 24 years old
- Birthplace: Edina, Minnesota, United States
- Hometown: Hopkins, Minnesota, United States
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Professional basketball player
- Height: 6 feet (183 cm)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Dallas Wings
- Jersey Number: 5
- College: University of Connecticut
- WNBA Draft: First overall pick in 2025
- Parents: Bob Bueckers and Amy Dettbarn
- Siblings: Ryan, Drew and Lauren Bueckers
- Girlfriend: Azzi Fudd
- Net Worth: $10 million
- Instagram: @paigebueckers
- X (Twitter): @paigebueckers1
Paige Bueckers’ Early Life and Education
Paige Madison Bueckers was born on October 20, 2001, in Edina, Minnesota, and grew up in nearby Hopkins. She developed an early interest in basketball, encouraged by her father, Bob Bueckers, a former high school basketball point guard and current software developer and technical lead. He recognised her enthusiasm in elementary school and decided to train her .
Her mother, Amy Dettbarn, competed in cross-country and track and field at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Paige is the oldest of four siblings, with two brothers, Ryan Bueckers and Drew Bueckers, and a sister, Lauren Bueckers.
Bueckers attended Hopkins High School in Minnesota, where she became one of the country’s most highly regarded young basketball players. Her performances earned her multiple state-level honours and national recognition. During her high school career, she received the Gatorade National Player of the Year award and was named a McDonald’s All-American.
She also represented the United States in international youth basketball competitions. In 2018, she won a gold medal in the three-on-three basketball event at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
After graduating from high school, Bueckers committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn), one of the most successful programmes in women’s college basketball. She joined the UConn Huskies for the 2020–21 season and quickly became a leading player in college basketball.
Career
Paige Bueckers began her college basketball career at UConn in 2020. Her freshman season immediately established her as a major talent: she became the first freshman in women’s college basketball to win the Associated Press Player of the Year award, the Wooden Award, and the Naismith Trophy in the same season. She also earned national recognition for her scoring, playmaking and ability to control games.
Her college career later faced significant interruptions because of injuries. A knee injury limited her appearances during the 2021–22 season, while a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) forced her to miss the entire 2022–23 season. The setbacks required lengthy rehabilitation, but she returned to the court and continued to develop as a leader for the Huskies.
Bueckers regained her place among the leading players in college basketball during the 2023–24 season. In her final collegiate season, she helped UConn win the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship, defeating South Carolina 82–59 in the national championship game. Her season-long performances reinforced her reputation as one of the most accomplished players in the programme’s recent history.
Her college career also connected her with several prominent players and coaches, including head coach Geno Auriemma, fellow guard Azzi Fudd and teammates such as Aaliyah Edwards. Fudd became particularly important in Bueckers’ life, as the pair developed both a close personal relationship and a long-standing basketball connection through USA Basketball and UConn.
In April 2025, the Dallas Wings selected Bueckers with the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft. The selection marked her transition from college basketball to the professional game, where she joined a franchise looking to build a competitive team around emerging talent.
Bueckers made an impressive start to her WNBA career. During the 2025 regular season, she averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. She also scored 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 20, 2025, setting a WNBA rookie single-game scoring record at the time. Her performances earned her the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, an All-Star selection and a place on the All-WNBA Second Team.
She continued to produce strong numbers in the 2026 season, averaging 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game across 42 regular-season appearances. Her scoring and playmaking helped her earn a second consecutive All-Star starting selection and another Associated Press All-WNBA Second Team honour.
During the 2026 season, Bueckers also set a WNBA record for the most points scored by a player in their first two seasons, reaching 1,570. She established several Dallas Wings single-season records, including total points and assists, and demonstrated improved three-point shooting.
Her professional career has placed her alongside notable WNBA players, including teammate Arike Ogunbowale and, beginning in 2026, Azzi Fudd, whom Dallas selected first overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Her performances have also placed her among a generation of players drawing attention to women’s basketball, alongside stars such as Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson.
Bueckers has represented the United States in international basketball at the youth level and was included in the country’s senior national-team programme. In 2026, she played on the United States women’s basketball team that won the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Personal Life
Paige Bueckers has generally kept her private life separate from her professional basketball career, although her relationship with Azzi Fudd has attracted considerable public attention.
Bueckers and Fudd first connected through USA Basketball before becoming teammates at UConn. Their friendship grew during college, when they supported each other through the demands of elite basketball and periods of injury.

Bueckers publicly acknowledged Fudd as her girlfriend during the 2025 WNBA All-Star festivities. In 2026, the pair spoke more openly about their relationship in connection with the documentary series The Dynasty: UConn Huskies. Fudd described them as a couple who preferred to keep their relationship private.
The two reunited professionally in 2026 after the Dallas Wings selected Fudd with the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Bueckers has emphasised that their personal relationship is private and that both players remain committed to their professional responsibilities.
Outside basketball, Bueckers has participated in community initiatives. In 2026, she helped refurbish a basketball court in the Minnesota community where she grew up, reflecting her connection to the place that supported her early development.
Social Media Handles
- Instagram: @paigebueckers
- X (Twitter): @paigebueckers1
Paige Bueckers’ Net Worth
Paige Bueckers has an estimated net worth of $10 million. As a high-profile WNBA player, her earnings can include her professional basketball salary, sponsorship agreements, endorsement deals and other commercial partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Paige Bueckers?
Paige Bueckers was born on October 20, 2001. She is 24 years old as of October 18, 2026, and will turn 25 on October 20, 2026.
- How tall is Paige Bueckers?
Paige Bueckers is listed at 6 feet (183 cm) tall.
- What team does Paige Bueckers play for?
She plays as a guard for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.
- When was Paige Bueckers drafted into the WNBA?
The Dallas Wings selected her with the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
- Did Paige Bueckers win the WNBA Rookie of the Year award?
Yes. She won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award after an outstanding debut season.
- Who is Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend?
Paige Bueckers is dating fellow basketball player Azzi Fudd. They publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2025 and discussed it further in 2026.
- Did Paige Bueckers win a college basketball championship?
Yes. She helped UConn win the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship.
- What is Paige Bueckers’ net worth?
Paige Bueckers has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
- Who are Paige Bueckers’ parents?
Her parents are Bob Bueckers and Amy Dettbarn.
- What is Paige Bueckers famous for?
She is known for her college basketball career at UConn, becoming the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and playing for the Dallas Wings.
- Is Paige Bueckers a girl or a boy?
She is a woman. She is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.
- Is Paige Bueckers a lesbian?
Paige Bueckers has publicly confirmed that she is in a romantic relationship with another woman, Azzi Fudd. However, there is no reliable source in which she explicitly identifies herself as a lesbian.
