Paige Bueckers wins 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Paige Bueckers Receives 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

The WNBA announced on Thursday that Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is the winner of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

The award has been given out since 2008.

It is named after Hall of Famer and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

The award recognizes a WNBA player who demonstrates leadership, charitable work, and a commitment to making a difference off the court.

Bueckers is the second-year pro selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

The league said she earned the honor for her commitment to expanding access to sports, education, and essential resources for young people and families.

A committee of WNBA and NBA leadership members chose Bueckers as the winner.

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

Good Sports provides athletic equipment and apparel to children in underserved communities.

Bueckers spoke about the honor in a statement released by the WNBA.

"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 added: "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."

"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."

Bueckers has been active in community work since entering the league.

Her efforts include hosting free basketball camps for girls.

She helped renovate a basketball court in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, in partnership with Gatorade in August.

She partnered with Goodr to fund a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School in her hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota.

She made a $50,000 donation to the Hopkins Education Foundation.

She made a $25,000 donation to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars.

In North Texas, where she plays for the Wings, Bueckers has continued her community involvement.

She participated in the Wings' annual Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas.

She mentored 12 players on the Dallas Wings Dream Team.

She supported the Dallas Wings Community Foundation's fundraising efforts.

She also participated in the team's Kicks for a Cause celebration.

On the court, Bueckers had a strong sophomore season in 2026.

She averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1 steal per game.

She shot 31% from three-point range in 42 games.

Her play helped lead the Wings to the WNBA playoffs.

The Wings lost to the eventual WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers is a two-time WNBA All-Star.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is one of the league's most prestigious off-court honors.

Past winners include players who have built long careers of community service.

Bueckers is among the youngest players to receive the award.

The award committee evaluates players on their charitable efforts, leadership, and inspiration to others.

Bueckers said she structures her professional partnerships to include a charity or community engagement component.

This means that when she signs endorsement deals, she builds in a requirement for giving back.

She said she wants to use her platform to create opportunities for the next generation.

Her work has focused on sports access, education, food security, and mentorship.

The $10,000 donation to Good Sports will go toward providing equipment and apparel to children in high-need communities.

Good Sports is a national nonprofit headquartered in Massachusetts.

The organization has distributed over $100 million in equipment since its founding.

Bueckers' selection for the award was announced on November 5, 2026.

The WNBA season ended with the Golden State Valkyries winning the championship.

Bueckers' community work has drawn attention from league officials and fans alike.

The award is named after Dawn Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals and played 13 seasons in the WNBA.

Staley is also the head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team, where she has won multiple national championships.

She has been a vocal advocate for community involvement by athletes.

Bueckers said she feels fortunate to have had people invest in her life and wants to pay that forward.

Her efforts in Minnesota and Texas have touched thousands of young people.

The free grocery store she funded at Hopkins West Junior High School addresses food insecurity in her hometown.

The court refurbishment in St. Louis Park provides a safe place for kids to play basketball.

The free camps she hosts give girls access to coaching and mentorship.

The Wings' Dream Team program pairs players with young athletes for mentoring.

Bueckers' involvement with Special Olympics of North Texas through the Unified Game promotes inclusion.

Her donations to the Hopkins Education Foundation support educational programs in her old school district.

The donation to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars supports academic achievement for students of color.

Bueckers has said that sports have given her so much and that they can bring people together.

She believes sports can build community and create opportunity.

The award recognizes that belief in action.

Dawn Staley said Bueckers' work reaches far beyond basketball.

The WNBA continues to highlight community service as a core part of its mission.

Bueckers is expected to continue her community work as her career progresses.

The award comes after a season where she also excelled on the court.

Her 20.9 points per game ranked among the league leaders.

Her 5.9 assists per game showed her playmaking ability.

She played in all 42 games of the regular season.

The Wings made the playoffs for the second straight year since drafting Bueckers.

The team is building around her as a franchise cornerstone.

Off the court, she is building a legacy of service that has now been formally recognized.