Should Paige Bueckers stay at UConn for another year? Exploring Huskies star's options apart from potentially joining Dallas Wings

UConn superstar guard Paige Bueckers once said that the 2024-25 women's college basketball season could be her last. She said so despite knowing that she has a year of collegiate eligibility.

Although she clarified it in previous interviews that it's the plan for now, WNBA fans are excited for Bueckers to declare her eligibility for the 2025 draft. Mock drafts place the six-foot Hopkins, Minnesota, native as the No. 1 overall pick. and the Dallas Wings are expected to get her as their future franchise player.

As per reports, Bueckers prefers to go to the LA Sparks, but the three-time WNBA champions lost out in the lottery to Dallas. It means the Sparks have the rights for the No. 2 pick, so the only way the UConn star could make her preferred team this season is if the two teams trade draft spots.

Fans and experts feel that the senior guard would change her mind and stay with UConn for the 2025-26 season and hope that the Sparks' 2025 WNBA season would be horrendous to secure Bueckers for the 2026 draft.

Let's explore Paige Bueckers' options apart from potentially joining the Dallas Wings after the 2024-25 college basketball season:

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Possible scenarios for Paige Bueckers if she decides to stay with UConn or decides to go to the WNBA

If Paige Bueckers stays in UConn for the 2025-26 season

There's a possibility that Paige Bueckers might throw a monkey wrench on her plans to go professional and remain with UConn for the 2025-26 season. Remember that the 2021 national player of the year still has a season of eligibility after she suffered an ACL tear on her left knee that forced her to sit out the 2022-23 season.

Bueckers is yet to win a national championship but reached the Final Four twice, losing on both occasions. The Huskies are in contention to win their 12th national championship this season, with the guard leading the charge and a slew of high-caliber guards and forwards (Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, KK Arnold, Aubrey Griffin and Kaitlyn Chen) supporting her.

Barring injuries, the team is on pace to go deep into March Madness with its playoff experience and talent. However, if Bueckers and her teammates come up short again, let's say another Final Four entry or they reach the national championship final game and lose a close one, it could motivate the talented guard to return for the 2025-26 season.

For that season, UConn will have five-star commit Kelis Fisher, and four-star forward/center Gandy Malou-Mamel will join the Huskies. With Bueckers staying, she could provide leadership for the last time before she ventures the pro ranks.

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A promising but unsure WNBA season if Paige Bueckers declares her eligibility for the 2025 draft

The Dallas Wings own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft and are interested in picking Paige Bueckers as their top pick. However, reports say that the six-foot guard prefer the Los Angeles Sparks, the runner-up in the lottery.

A report from The Mirror US discussed such a scenario, suggesting that Bueckers might turn into the WNBA's version of Eli Manning, who aired his refusal to play for the San Diego (currently Los Angeles) Chargers before the NFL draft. Manning got traded to the New York Giants for No. 4 pick Philip Rivers.

If Paige Bueckers declares her eligibility for the WNBA after the 2024-25 season and insists that she won't play for the Wings, she might ask for a trade, sending the Huskies guard to her presumed choice: the Los Angeles Sparks.

She could also agree to be picked by the Wings during draft day, sign a deal and eventually play for Dallas on the opening day. Paige Bueckers could test the waters first before deciding on what's next for her the following season.

Alternatively, she could sit out the entire season due to a freak injury and hope that the Wings wouldn't get the No. 1 pick again next season. She could also sit out for a year and play outside the US to add more experience before deciding to be picked in the WNBA.

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Opting for the transfer portal to seek a possible championship contender

The most remote possibility for Paige Bueckers after the 2024-25 season is to place her name in the transfer portal. This will be the last resort for the UConn star if she doesn't declare for the WNBA draft or stays out of the Huskies after this season.

A lot of teams would attempt to acquire her services, as it would raise their strength for the 2025-26 season, making them the favorites. It could also raise the NIL value of the team that wins the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes and likely put the school on the national stage if she commits and plays there.

Bueckers has at least two months to make up her mind and decide on her future. The decision could affect the global landscape of women's basketball, as it transitions to the new generation of superstars the Generation Alpha of fans would idolize.