WNBA Honors Paige Bueckers With Major 2026 Award

The WNBA announced Thursday that Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has received the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

The award was established in 2008.

It is named after Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame player who won three Olympic gold medals and later coached the University of South Carolina to multiple national championships.

The honor is given each year to a current WNBA player whose leadership, charitable work and commitment to serving others reflect Staley’s example.

Bueckers is the 2026 recipient.

This is not an on-court award.

Bueckers averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 42 regular-season games in her second WNBA season.

She made her first All-Star start.

She earned her second straight All-WNBA Second Team selection.

She led the Dallas Wings to a 27-17 record and a playoff berth after the team missed the postseason during her rookie year.

The Wings lost in the first round to the eventual champions, the Golden State Valkyries.

But the Dawn Staley Award recognizes what happens away from the arena.

Bueckers has supported initiatives in two states: Minnesota, where she grew up, and Texas, where she now plays.

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

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

She mentored young athletes through the Wings’ Dream Team program.

She also supported local charitable initiatives in the North Texas area.

The award comes with a $10,000 donation from the league to Good Sports, the nonprofit Bueckers selected.

Good Sports provides sports equipment, apparel and footwear to children in underserved communities.

Bueckers released a statement through 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 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 commented on the selection.

“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 was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

She entered the league after a decorated college career at the University of Connecticut, where she won the Naismith Trophy as national player of the year in 2021 and led the Huskies to multiple Final Four appearances.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award was first given in 2008.

Past winners include some of the most respected names in the league.

The award is presented annually, and the recipient is chosen by the WNBA.

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

She is also one of the youngest players ever to receive it.

The award announcement came after Bueckers finished her second professional season.

Her rookie year was marked by adjustment to the pro game.

The Wings missed the playoffs that season.

In year two, Bueckers elevated her game and her team.

She started all 42 regular-season games.

She shot 31 percent from three-point range.

She averaged 1.0 steals per game.

The Wings finished as the No. 7 seed in the league.

They faced the Golden State Valkyries in the first round.

The Valkyries swept the series and went on to win the WNBA championship.

Bueckers’ community work has been a constant through both seasons.

She has said that giving back is a core part of who she is.

The $10,000 donation to Good Sports will help equip children in low-income areas with athletic gear.

Good Sports has distributed equipment to millions of kids since its founding.

The organization focuses on removing barriers to youth sports participation.

Bueckers chose Good Sports because of its mission to level the playing field.

The award is named for Dawn Staley, who played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2006.

Staley was a six-time All-Star and won three Olympic gold medals as a player.

She later became the head coach at Temple University and then at South Carolina.

Under Staley, South Carolina won national championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024.

She also coached the U.S. women’s national team to Olympic gold in 2021.

Staley is known as much for her community work as for her basketball career.

The award that bears her name is meant to honor players who follow that example.

Bueckers now joins a list of recipients that includes some of the league’s most active philanthropists.

The WNBA has not announced the exact date of the award ceremony.

Typically, the award is presented during a home game early in the following season.

Bueckers will enter her third WNBA season in 2027.

She is under contract with the Dallas Wings.

The Wings are expected to build around her as their franchise player.

Bueckers’ combination of on-court production and off-court leadership has made her one of the league’s most marketable stars.

She has endorsement deals with Gatorade, Nike and other major brands.

She has used those partnerships to fund community projects.

The court renovation in Minnesota was done in collaboration with Gatorade.