Paige Bueckers Wins Prestigious WNBA Award After Second Season

The WNBA announced Thursday that Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been named 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 current South Carolina head coach.

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

Bueckers is in her second season in the league after being selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft out of UConn.

This is the first time she has received this particular honor.

"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 released by the WNBA.

"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 commented on Bueckers winning the award that carries her name.

"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 supported several initiatives in two states this year.

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

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

Bueckers organized a free basketball camp for 95 girls, providing instruction and mentorship.

Through her partnership with Goodr, a company that fights food waste and hunger, she funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School in Hopkins, Minnesota.

In Dallas, where she plays for the Wings, Bueckers participated in the team's Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas.

She also mentored young athletes through the Wings' 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.

On the court, Bueckers had a standout second season for the Dallas Wings.

She averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 42 regular-season games.

Bueckers also recorded 1 steal per game and shot 31 percent from three-point range.

Her performance earned her a second consecutive All-WNBA Second Team selection.

She also made her first All-Star start during the 2026 season.

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

This was a significant turnaround from her rookie year, when the Wings missed the postseason entirely.

In the first round of the playoffs, Dallas faced the Golden State Valkyries.

The Valkyries won the series and went on to become the 2026 WNBA champions.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award was established more than 18 years ago to honor a player who demonstrates the values Staley herself showed during her playing and coaching career.

Staley won three Olympic gold medals as a player and led the University of South Carolina to multiple NCAA championships as head coach.

Previous winners of the award include some of the most respected community leaders in the league's history.