Paige Bueckers wins WNBA's top community leadership award

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

The league made the announcement on Thursday morning.

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

It is named after WNBA legend Dawn Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals as a player and later became the head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team.

The award was established in 2008.

It honors 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.

"Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents," Staley said in a statement released by the WNBA.

"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 also spoke about the honor in a statement.

"With every partnership I take on, it's really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component," she 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."

"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."

As part of the honor, the WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Good Sports.

Good Sports is a nonprofit selected by Bueckers.

The organization provides athletic equipment, apparel, and footwear to children in high-need communities.

Bueckers has focused her community work on two main areas: North Texas and her home state of Minnesota.

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

That initiative directly addressed food insecurity among students and their families.

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

The foundation supports educational programs and resources for students in the Hopkins school district.

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

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

The renovated court provides a safe and updated space for youth sports in the community.

In North Texas, Bueckers has been active with the Dallas Wings' community programs.

She participated in the team's annual Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas.

The Unified Game brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities for a day of basketball.

Bueckers also mentored 12 players on the Dallas Wings Dream Team, a youth basketball program.

She helped support the Dallas Wings Community Foundation's fundraising efforts.

She also took part in the team's Kicks for a Cause celebration, which raises awareness and funds for community initiatives.

Bueckers' community work has continued throughout her WNBA career.

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

Since then, she has made community involvement a priority alongside her on-court performance.

On the court, Bueckers had a strong sophomore season.

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

She shot 31 percent from three-point range over 42 games.

Her play helped the Wings reach the WNBA playoffs.

The team was eliminated by the eventual champion Golden State Valkyries.

Bueckers has already earned multiple honors early in her career.

She is a two-time WNBA All-Star.

Now she adds the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award to her list of achievements.

The award is one of the highest off-court honors a WNBA player can receive.

It recognizes that leadership extends beyond the basketball court.

For Bueckers, the award reflects work that has been ongoing since before she entered the league.

She has said that giving back is a core part of who she is as an athlete and a person.

The $10,000 donation to Good Sports will help provide equipment and apparel to children in underserved communities.

Bueckers selected Good Sports because of its mission to create opportunities in sports and physical activity.

The organization works with schools and community programs to distribute gear to kids who otherwise might not have access.

Bueckers' work in Minnesota and Texas shows a commitment to both her hometown and her new home city.

She has used her platform to address food insecurity, education funding, and youth sports access.

Each of her initiatives has included a partnership with an existing organization.

She worked with Goodr, Gatorade, the Hopkins Education Foundation, and Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars.

In each case, she brought financial support and personal involvement.

Dawn Staley's praise for Bueckers carries weight because of Staley's own legacy.

Staley is one of the most decorated players and coaches in basketball history.

She won three Olympic gold medals and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

As a coach, she led South Carolina to multiple NCAA championships.

Having the award named after her makes it one of the most meaningful honors in the WNBA.

Bueckers said she wants to pay forward the investments others have made in her life.

She credited the people and communities who supported her growing up.

Her work is ongoing, and she has indicated she plans to continue expanding her community efforts.

The award comes at the end of the 2026 WNBA season.

Bueckers and the Wings will look to build on their playoff appearance next season.

For now, the focus is on the recognition for what she does when the cameras are off.

The WNBA's $10,000 donation to Good Sports is a tangible result of her efforts.

But the broader impact of her work — the court refurbishment, the grocery store, the mentorships — will last beyond a single season.

Bueckers has set a standard for what it means to be a community leader in professional sports.

She has shown that a young player can make an immediate difference.

Her example may inspire other athletes to prioritize community engagement.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is given annually.

Each recipient is chosen by a committee of league and team leadership.

Bueckers joins a list of past winners who have used their platforms for social impact.

The award is a reminder that professional athletes have the power to change lives beyond the game.

Bueckers has embraced that responsibility from the start of her career.