Napheesa Collier teases Paige Bueckers appearance in Unrivaled with phone call conversation

Paige Bueckers has yet to play in the WNBA; however, the UConn guard is already one of the most prominent names in the women's basketball scene.

That's why the new 3x3 basketball league, Unrivaled, didn't hesitate to offer her a lucrative NIL deal to ensure that she will join the tournament after her maiden WNBA season next year.

The league shared a reel on Instagram on Tuesday announcing that Bueckers would be joining them on an "internship," adding that she's the future of the league.

Bueckers is in the middle of the season with the Huskies, but she has already secured NIL deals with major companies like Nike, Gatorade, Dunkin’, Bose and Chegg, among others.

Paige Bueckers talks about diminished scoring numbers

Bueckers continues to be one of the best players in college basketball but her scoring average has gone down by two points this season. However, she's unfazed by it.

"That's what UConn is all about," Bueckers said on Tuesday, via SI. "When somebody has a bad game, it's anybody's night on any given night. So not forcing it, just continuing to read what the defense is giving me, and play within the offense, play within the action, get myself (going) that way. But when it's time to be assertive and go create the action myself, I think I've had a pretty good read at that."

That's the kind of mindset that sets her apart from other great players, according to Huskies coach Geno Auriemma. She knows she can make an impact in other ways.

"The value of having somebody like Paige, that they make their teammates a lot better," Auriemma said on Tuesday. "Just by their presence on the floor, and their ability to see and pass. So Paige's impact on our team, even Saturday, can be either getting 20 points and being responsible for a lot of easy buckets or a lot of free looks.

"So is she being more assertive? Yes. She attracts so much attention everywhere she goes, it does a lot for our other players. So that makes our team doubly dangerous."

Bueckers is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in eight games this season. She is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.