Paige Bueckers Wins 2026 WNBA Dawn Staley Leadership Award

Paige Bueckers has won an award that reflects the impact she makes away from the basketball court.

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 Dawn Staley, 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 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."

Dawn Staley also issued a statement about Bueckers' win.

"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 and Dallas.

In her home state of Minnesota, she partnered with Gatorade to renovate a basketball court.

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

She organized a free basketball camp for 95 girls.

Through her partnership with Goodr, she funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School.

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

She 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.

Bueckers' second WNBA season was also strong on the court.

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

She shot 31% from three-point range.

The Wings finished the regular season with a 27-17 record, securing the seventh seed.

They reached the playoffs for the first time since Bueckers' rookie year, when the team missed the postseason.

In the first round, the Wings lost to the eventual WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers also earned individual honors during the season.

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

She made her first All-Star start.

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick has now added a major off-court honor to her resume.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award has been given annually since 2008.

Previous winners include some of the most respected figures in the league.

Staley herself won three Olympic gold medals as a player and has coached the University of South Carolina to multiple national championships.

The award is meant to recognize a player who represents a spirit of leadership, love for the game, charitable efforts, and inspiration.

Bueckers' commitment to community work predates her WNBA career.

During her college years at UConn, she was involved in numerous outreach programs.

She has spoken publicly about the importance of using her platform to help others.

The $10,000 donation to Good Sports will go toward providing equipment to kids who might not otherwise have access to organized sports.

Bueckers selected the organization herself as part of the award process.

The WNBA makes the donation on behalf of the award winner each year.

Bueckers' work in Minnesota includes a focus on food security.

The free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School was funded through her partnership with Goodr, a company that works to reduce food waste and fight hunger.

In Dallas, her involvement with Special Olympics and the Dream Team program has been noted by team officials.

The Wings have highlighted her community engagement throughout the season.

Bueckers has said that her approach to partnerships is intentional.

She insists on including a charitable component in every deal she signs.

This approach has drawn attention from both fans and business partners.

Her statement to the WNBA made clear that this is a core part of her identity as an athlete.

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

The award is the latest in a series of recognitions for Bueckers since she entered the league.

She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft after a decorated college career at UConn.

She won the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy in college.

She also won the Nancy Lieberman Award as the nation's top point guard.

Her transition to the WNBA was widely watched.

In her rookie season, she averaged 18.4 points and 5.7 assists.

Her sophomore season saw those numbers rise to 20.9 points and 5.9 assists.