Paige Bueckers wins 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers has won an award that recognizes her work away from the basketball court.

The WNBA announced on Thursday that Bueckers is the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

The award was established in 2008.

It is named after Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame player and current South Carolina head coach.

The honor recognizes a current WNBA player whose leadership, charitable work and commitment to serving others reflect Staley's example.

Bueckers spoke about the award in a statement released by the league.

"With every partnership I take on, it's really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component," Bueckers said.

"I've been fortunate to have so many people and communities invest in me throughout my life, and I want to pay that forward by using my platform to create opportunities for the next generation."

She listed the areas she focuses on.

"Whether that's through sports, education, food security or mentorship, I want to make sure people have access to opportunities they might not otherwise have," Bueckers said.

"Sports have given me so much, and I think they can be such a powerful way to bring people together, build community and create opportunity."

Dawn Staley also released a statement about Bueckers winning the award.

"Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents," Staley said.

"Through her leadership, compassion, and commitment to service, Paige uses her platform to uplift communities and inspire the next generation."

"I'm proud to honor her for making a difference that reaches far beyond basketball," Staley said.

Bueckers has supported several initiatives in Minnesota, her home state, and in Dallas, where she plays professionally.

In Minnesota, she partnered with Gatorade to renovate a basketball court.

She also donated $25,000 to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, a nonprofit that supports student-athletes.

She organized a free basketball camp for 95 girls.

Through her partnership with Goodr, a food-waste management company, she funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School.

In Dallas, she participated in the Wings' Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas.

She also mentored young athletes through the team's Dream Team program.

As part of the recognition, the WNBA will donate $10,000 to Good Sports, a nonprofit selected by Bueckers.

Good Sports provides sports equipment, apparel and footwear to children in underserved communities.

On the court, Bueckers had a stellar sophomore season.

She averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1 steal per game over 42 regular-season contests.

She shot 31 percent from three-point range.

The Wings finished the regular season with a 27-17 record.

That was good for the seventh seed in the WNBA playoffs.

It marked a significant turnaround from her rookie year, when Dallas missed the postseason entirely.

Bueckers led the Wings to the first round of the playoffs, where they lost to the eventual WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries.

She also collected individual honors during the season.

She earned her second consecutive All-WNBA Second Team selection.

She made her first All-Star start.

Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

She entered the league after a decorated college career at UConn.

At UConn, she won the Naismith College Player of the Year award as a freshman in 2021.

She also led the Huskies to the national championship game in 2022.

Her college career was interrupted by injuries, including a torn ACL that sidelined her for the 2022-23 season.

She returned for her final season in 2024-25 and led UConn to another Final Four appearance.

Bueckers has built a reputation for using her platform for community work since her college days.

At UConn, she participated in hospital visits, youth clinics and fundraising efforts for local charities.

She has also been active in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals that included community-service components.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is one of several off-court honors the WNBA presents each season.

Other league awards recognize sportsmanship, community service and social justice work.

The award is named for Staley because of her extensive community involvement during and after her playing career.

Staley played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2006 and won three Olympic gold medals as a player.

She has coached South Carolina to multiple national championships and is known for her philanthropic work.

Bueckers now joins a list of past winners that includes some of the league's most respected players.

Past recipients have included players known for their work in education, youth sports and food security.

The award comes with a $10,000 donation to the winner's chosen charity.

Bueckers selected Good Sports as the recipient of that donation.

Good Sports was founded in 2003 and has provided equipment to more than 7 million children nationwide.

The organization works with schools, recreation centers and youth programs in low-income communities.

Bueckers' selection for the award was announced by the WNBA on Thursday, November 6, 2026.

The timing comes after the conclusion of the 2026 WNBA season.

The Valkyries won the championship in October, defeating the Wings in the first round and eventually the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals.

Bueckers is expected to return to the Wings for the 2027 season.

She will be entering her third year in the league.

The Wings are expected to build around her as a franchise cornerstone.

Dallas has not won a WNBA championship since the franchise moved from Tulsa in 2016.

The team has made the playoffs in several seasons but has not advanced past the semifinals.

Bueckers' combination of on-court production and off-court leadership has drawn praise from teammates and coaches.

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes has spoken publicly about her work ethic and maturity.

Teammates have described her as a natural leader who leads by example.

The award is likely to increase her visibility as a role model for young athletes.

Bueckers has a large social media following and has used it to promote charitable causes.

She has also partnered with brands that align with her community-focused values.

Her statement about the award emphasized her desire to create opportunities for others.

She said she wants to make sure people have access to opportunities they might not otherwise have.

The award is one of several honors Bueckers has received in 2026.

She was also named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the second straight year.