Paige Bueckers wins 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley leadership award.

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers has been named the winner of the 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

The honor recognizes her commitment to expanding access to sports, education, and essential resources for young people and families.

The award is named after WNBA legend Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame player and current University of South Carolina head coach.

It was established in 2008 to honor players who demonstrate leadership, love for the game, charitable efforts, and the ability to inspire others.

Bueckers was selected by a committee of WNBA and NBA leadership members.

As part of the award, the WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Good Sports, a nonprofit chosen by Bueckers.

Good Sports provides athletic equipment and apparel to children in high-need communities.

“Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents,” Dawn Staley said in a statement.

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

Staley added: “I’m proud to honor her for making a difference that reaches far beyond basketball.”

Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.

In her sophomore WNBA season, she averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 31% from three-point range across 42 games.

She led the Wings to the WNBA playoffs, where they lost to the eventual champion Golden State Valkyries.

But the award is about what Bueckers does when the game ends.

Bueckers has focused her community work on two regions: her hometown in Minnesota and her new home in North Texas.

In Minnesota, she partnered with Goodr to fund a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School in Hopkins, Minnesota.

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

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

In August 2026, Bueckers teamed up with Gatorade to refurbish a basketball court in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

She has hosted free basketball camps for girls in the area.

In North Texas, Bueckers participated in the Wings’ annual Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas.

She mentored 12 players on the Dallas Wings Dream Team, a program that develops young athletes.

Bueckers supported the Dallas Wings Community Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

She also took part in the team’s Kicks for a Cause celebration, which raises awareness for charitable causes.

“With every partnership I take on, it’s really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component,” Bueckers said in a statement.

“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 continued: “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.”

Bueckers has also used her platform to fight food insecurity.

The free grocery store she funded in Hopkins provides food to families in need.

Her work in Minnesota and Texas reflects a consistent commitment to the communities she represents.

The award is the latest in a growing list of honors for Bueckers early in her WNBA career.

She is a two-time WNBA All-Star, having been selected in both her rookie and sophomore seasons.

On the court, she is known for her scoring, playmaking, and leadership.

Off the court, the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award places her among a select group of players recognized for service.

Previous winners include some of the league’s most respected veterans.

The award is one of several community-focused honors the WNBA presents annually.

The league’s donation to Good Sports will help provide equipment and apparel to children in underserved communities.

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

The award was announced on Thursday morning by the WNBA.

Dawn Staley’s statement highlighted the connection between Bueckers’ on-court success and her off-court impact.

“Paige uses her platform to uplift communities and inspire the next generation,” Staley said.

Bueckers said she views the award as an opportunity to continue the work.

“I want to make sure people have access to opportunities they might not otherwise have,” she said.

The award carries a $10,000 donation to the nonprofit of Bueckers’ choice.

She selected Good Sports, which has a track record of providing sports equipment to children in need.

The organization creates opportunities in sports and physical activity for young people in high-need communities.