Paige Bueckers Wins 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Paige Bueckers has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

The Dallas Wings guard earned the honor for her work supporting young athletes and families in the communities she represents.

The award was established in 2008 and is named after Hall of Famer and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

It recognizes WNBA players who demonstrate leadership, a love for the game, charitable efforts, and the ability to inspire others.

Since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers has made community involvement a central part of her career.

Her efforts have included hosting free basketball camps for girls.

She also helped renovate a basketball court in Minnesota.

She has supported programs focused on education and food insecurity.

Since joining the Wings, she has carried that commitment to North Texas.

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

She has mentored young athletes through the team’s Dream Team program.

She has supported local charitable initiatives in the Dallas area.

As part of the award, the league 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 receiving 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."

For Bueckers, the recognition is a reflection of work that has continued well beyond the basketball season.

The award has little to do with what she does on the court.

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.

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

Her play led the Wings to the WNBA playoffs.

They lost to the eventual WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft out of UConn.

She was a star at UConn, where she won the Naismith Trophy as national player of the year in 2021.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is given annually to one WNBA player.

Past winners include players like Nneka Ogwumike, Maya Moore, and Elena Delle Donne.

The award comes with a $10,000 donation to a charity of the player's choice.

Bueckers chose Good Sports, a national nonprofit based in Massachusetts.

Good Sports has provided equipment to more than 7 million children since its founding in 2003.

The award was announced on November 5, 2026.

Bueckers is the first Dallas Wings player to win the award.

She is also one of the youngest recipients in the award's history.

Bueckers turned 24 earlier this year.

The WNBA season runs from May to October.

Bueckers will enter her third WNBA season in 2027.

The Wings are expected to be contenders again next season.

Bueckers' community work has been noted by teammates and coaches.

Wings head coach Latricia Trammell has praised Bueckers for her leadership both on and off the floor.

The award is named for Dawn Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals and played in the WNBA before becoming a legendary coach at South Carolina.