Paige Bueckers wins 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Paige Bueckers has won an award that goes beyond basketball.

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

The award was established in 2008 and named after the Hall of Fame player and coach.

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

Bueckers spoke about the honor 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: sports, education, food security, and mentorship.

"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," she 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 added.

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

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

She donated $25,000 to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, a nonprofit organization.

She organized a free basketball camp for 95 girls.

Through her partnership with Goodr, a food waste and hunger relief organization, 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 a nonprofit selected by Bueckers.

She chose Good Sports, an organization that provides sports equipment, apparel, and footwear to children in underserved communities.

The award comes after a strong second season for Bueckers on the court.

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

She shot 31 percent from three-point range.

She played in 42 regular-season games.

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

That earned them the seventh seed in the WNBA playoffs.

They advanced to the first round, where they lost to the eventual champion Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers also earned individual honors during the season.

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

She made her first All-Star start.

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