more on Bueckers-Wings drama

[PacoSwede]

here's a terrific piece by howard megdal. strongly advise all who think paige 'should go along to get along' should consider this very informative take.

Dallas Wings hold top WNBA pick, Paige Bueckers holds the cards - The IX

In 2025 WNBA Draft, Dallas Wings hold top pick, but Paige Bueckers holds all the cards — Alex Bazzell talks Unrivaled.

www.theixsports.com

 

[yhun89]

Paige doesn't strike me as the type of person to manipulate her draft pick standing so she can end up with a "better" team.

Sure, she COULD do that. But she's incredibly media trained. She won't go out and say to an organization/have her agent say to an organization "I'm not going to play for you." Her main goal seems to just to be a part of team success, and to do her best to keep them afloat.

She wants to help a team win, to bring them up in the ranks and to be a core part of the success. She very well could do what CC did for the Fever, and bring them to a playoff, give them a mid-tier standing, etc.

Paige, while deep down, may want to play for the Sparks, won't go around it the same way Manning did. I just don't see it.

 

[ConnManFan]

I stop reading any time osmeone suggest that the player could bypass the WNBA altogether. These type a players have dreamed their entire lives of competing against the best. There is no gene in Paige's (or any other real competitors) dna to skip the W. There are a billion what if's but most of them are not realistic.

My second point - can we play out and enjoy her freaking final year in college before we worry about things that shouldn't be further from our minds right now?

 

[PacoSwede]

Paige doesn't strike me as the type of person to manipulate her draft pick standing so she can end up with a "better" team.
....
Paige, while deep down, may want to play for the Sparks, won't go around it the same way Manning did. I just don't see it.

i think paige is NOT thinking only about herself; all her peers have a stake in the outcome. from Megdah:

Bueckers will be making this decision in a very different moment for athletes, particular women. I referenced the CBA, but there’s a new CBA being negotiated, the players having opted out, with the general belief that the economics will change dramatically. Essentially, this 2025 draft, with five-figure rookie scale contracts, has the chance to be the last possible moment any player would get paid at a 2020-CBA level. Purely from a salary perspective alone, there are many incentives for Bueckers not to go through the normal process.

It is also a moment when the National Women’s Soccer League just signed a new CBA that abolished the draft altogether, with players needing to sign off on any trades. Player autonomy is the trend, and that is reflected not only in the balance between players and owners in the NWSL, but in places like Unrivaled, where there aren’t any owners at all, the players themselves stakeholders.

@ConnManFan you might LEARN something if you read this eye-opening article

 

[DEpup]

Paige doesn't strike me as the type of person to manipulate her draft pick standing so she can end up with a "better" team.

Sure, she COULD do that. But she's incredibly media trained. She won't go out and say to an organization/have her agent say to an organization "I'm not going to play for you." Her main goal seems to just to be a part of team success, and to do her best to keep them afloat.

She wants to help a team win, to bring them up in the ranks and to be a core part of the success. She very well could do what CC did for the Fever, and bring them to a playoff, give them a mid-tier standing, etc.

Paige, while deep down, may want to play for the Sparks, won't go around it the same way Manning did. I just don't see it.

I think she is mature enough to let her representation deal with that and she never says a thing either to them or publicly. That's what she pays them for.

 

[Charliebball]

I'm sure we would all love to see an additional season of Paige at UConn but I suspect she will skip the WNBA draft if a sign and trade deal can't be worked out.........nothing wrong with playing in Europe for a season where she could work on her game and earn far more than she could make in the WNBA at least in terms of salary....

 

[Dogdude]

Paige knows, as well as anyone, how an injury can derail a career at any time. She doesn't owe anyone in the WNBA anything as far as who to sign with, regardless of who drafts her. Personal ethics are far different from business ethics, and this is a business decision. She'll make tons of money regardless, so go with the situation that makes you happiest. In my own life, I may have given up some chances at income, but I've never had the stress of doing something I didn't want to.

 

[Bigboote]

I stop reading any time osmeone suggest that the player could bypass the WNBA altogether. These type a players have dreamed their entire lives of competing against the best. There is no gene in Paige's (or any other real competitors) dna to skip the W. There are a billion what if's but most of them are not realistic.

My second point - can we play out and enjoy her freaking final year in college before we worry about things that shouldn't be further from our minds right now?

Yes -- Paige needs facetime with fans. She's not going to get that by skipping the WNBA season and playing in Turkey or something. The only way she skips the WNBA is by playing another year at UConn.

 

[packwrap]

I posted on this in another thread. Both Golden State and Washington well armed to make a massive trade. Think 2 first round picks and 3 players. So that could happen.

Dallas a great market, it's in Southern Minnesota.

Agree Paige would play rather than sit out. Clark/Mitchell even Paige/Chen show that a Paige/Arike pairing not impossible.

I think WNBA players more interested in equity share for salary with open books, as WNBA starts to make real TV money, than fighting the concept of a draft.

 

[bballnut90]

i think paige is NOT thinking only about herself; all her peers have a stake in the outcome. from Megdah:

Bueckers will be making this decision in a very different moment for athletes, particular women. I referenced the CBA, but there’s a new CBA being negotiated, the players having opted out, with the general belief that the economics will change dramatically. Essentially, this 2025 draft, with five-figure rookie scale contracts, has the chance to be the last possible moment any player would get paid at a 2020-CBA level. Purely from a salary perspective alone, there are many incentives for Bueckers not to go through the normal process.

It is also a moment when the National Women’s Soccer League just signed a new CBA that abolished the draft altogether, with players needing to sign off on any trades. Player autonomy is the trend, and that is reflected not only in the balance between players and owners in the NWSL, but in places like Unrivaled, where there aren’t any owners at all, the players themselves stakeholders.

@ConnManFan you might LEARN something if you read this eye-opening article

The downside to waiting a year means she's stuck on a rookie contract an extra year which will undoubtedly be lower than the max contract she'd be eligible for in in 2029. Even if the CBA improves rookie contracts by, say, $50,000/year, the $200,000 extra she'd make over the next 4 years by waiting to declare until 2026 is offset by the fact that she's missing out on a year of a future max contract (which is probably valued at much higher than 200k).

All that said, logistically speaking I don't think WNBA salary is a top issue for Paige. She's reportedly making 7 figures already from endorsements, and will likely be able to make a couple hundred thousand per year playing in Unrivaled as well if she wants to. The boost she'll get from playing in the WNBA is unlikely to be more than about 10% of her annual earnings.

 

[Stagnant]

Lousy source for me. Never heard of them. If you were worried Paige might not go to Dallas; I wonder if you heard what she had to say before Geno’s record breaking game? It was very much what I speculated it would be from Paige. “Everything happens for a reason.”




Paige will go if they draft her imo.

 

[Henry]

Paige doesn't need to sit out a year to make more money. Look at how much she makes in NIL now. She'll make even more in endorsements once she turns pro.

 

[Dugway]

Paige has Rizz. I don't see her making any move that will jeopardize her popularity; just don't see it.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

here's a terrific piece by howard megdal. strongly advise all who think paige 'should go along to get along' should consider this very informative take.

Dallas Wings hold top WNBA pick, Paige Bueckers holds the cards - The IX

In 2025 WNBA Draft, Dallas Wings hold top pick, but Paige Bueckers holds all the cards — Alex Bazzell talks Unrivaled.

www.theixsports.com

Thanks for sharing.

As the article is astute to show — and perhaps Paige’s representation had a hand in it to pre-condition the well — if you look at a “winners” / “losers” ledger, only the tiny market of Dallas with its problems, is the “loser” #0 if Paige decides to do anything else than go to Dallas.

The biggest “winner” #1 is still and should be Paige, for having all these options to find something she is happy with and afforded to her by the rules which I would think will be even better for her b/c of a new CBA.

• The article is helpful in saying that Diamond DeShields is the trailblazer in foregoing a WNBA draft year (to play in Europe);
• The article is also helpful in saying that draft rights are only retained by Dallas for a year, so Dallas may be faced with the same dilemma that Washington (with the Thibaults) faced with Elena Delle Donne;
• Last I recall, Washington cored Elena and Elena refused a trade to Phoenix, opting to sit out the 2024 WNBA season;
• I am aware that some fans are not happy with Elena’s decision — a reaction that I think is bizarre.

I am just surprised at the strong reactions to the opportunity Paige has in negotiating what’s best for her.

• If it were anyone other than Paige, I would still be surprised;
• But b/c of Paige and who she is, I am just extra specially surprised.

#0 Elena is still out there. And should she want it, Elena is a big enough chess piece to grease a multi-team trade. Dallas’ GM could be forgiven for entertaining a trade if the alternative is nothing (Paige does something else in the year after the 2024-2025 season).

#1 Paige’s certified star power doesn’t come often. Juju could be the next one but who knows in 2-3 years? It would be a shame if the WNBA couldn’t maximize capitalizing on Paige’s star power after Caitlyn.

 

[rubymae4]

This isn’t Paige drama…this is media drama.

I feel like this speculation should go the route of transfer speculation—meaning not allowed.

Paige has already stated that this is her last year at UConn. Unless she makes a different statement, this is all harmful speculation.

 

[ucmiami2]

Dallas has been a dump in the WNBA. Nothing against the city, but ugh, the basketball just isn't great. Maybe Miller will be good, maybe Thomas will prove to be a good coach, but I wouldn't want to play with Arika.

And as this column points out, she has a lot of other options, and the money she takes home will be pretty much the same. Her NIL is already impressive, and her 'brand' is solid. Being on a mediocre WNBA team isn't going to suddenly change that earning power and an WNBA salary just doesn't move the needle. As the story says:

1. She can return to Uconn, play with her good friends in a very friendly environment, with housing, training, meals, facilities all top notch and a huge and expanding NIL paycheck.

2. She can take the summer to recuperate, then play a European season getting paid serious money and expanding her brand internationally

3. She can take the summer off, play in Unrivaled and declare next year.

4. Or she can make it clear that she isn't going to play for Dallas through her agent, and decide once they complete a trade.

The transition from college season to WNBA training camp is really fast and not great for a college player. Taking a time out isn't a bad choice. And for Dallas and Miller, this is a great opportunity - not every draft has a Paige at the top and the trade negotiated for that draft pick could transform the Dallas team even more than drafting Paige if Miller is good enough and Thomas is good enough. If it is done before the draft, it is a potential win for everyone.

 

[PacoSwede]

Paige has Rizz. I don't see her making any move that will jeopardize her popularity; just don't see it.

my suspicion is that "popularity" is not very important to paige. OTOH, i strongly get the feeling she's particularly attuned to helping others, and then everything will work out as it was meant to be.

 

[Scoe]

The conspiracies theories on this from various YouTube channels are so cringe.

Heard one podcaster say Geno would tell Paige to stay and dont go to Dallas, because Geno is about himself lol ok right.

College sports are a year to year changing of rosters as is, doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist to know that Paige will enter the draft and should. Your a number 1 pick who’s stepping into a great situatio?

As I do with the men’s roster and football roster just think about the current season, have plenty of time to react to what happens in the off-season.

 

[msf22b]

I find myself in quite a bit of disagreement with many esteemed colleagues on this one..where to start...At the top
I thought the article was spot on and mirrored my thoughts from an earlier thread...very unlikely Paige will go to Dallas

-Y89: Sorry, you don't understand the biz...Paige has one shot. and even if she is a softie, her handlers aren't.

-ConnMann: Stop reading...The W is 3rd world economically and even with the new contract is light years behind where Europe, Russia (in the past) even where China is....She might well generate a 7 figure salary there. That much money is enough to ''sacrifice' the playing standards of the W for a year or 2.

-Charlie: (and others) stop dreaming about a return to UConn, that ship has left the dock

-BigB: sorry no way

-BBallnut: The financial analysis you did is of no consequence, rookie contract numbers notwithstanding..
This is about big bucks, not small change

Paige will not go to Dallas...which by the way is hardly a "small market." least we forget some "Cowboy" football team. And she and her team may very well "manipulate' the system.

Next: For JuJu to announce (at the conclusion of this season) that college ball has no further interest for her and sue (and win) to play in the W...(at age 20).
Or..team up with Paige in Beijing or Ankara for a million+

 

[Skeets]

Paige doesn't have an ugly gene in her body. I very much doubt she would insist on a draft and trade deal. I very much doubt she would play overseas and turn her back on her fan base. Besides what would that do to her U.S. NIL deals? If anything, maybe she opts to play 1 more year at UConn.

 

[hoophuskee]

There is nothing new here that hasn't already been discussed. Paige isn't going back to UCONN nor is she going to bypass the WNBA if Dallas retains her pick nor will she be traded. Unless the Superstar players this upcoming year bypass the WNBA, Paige will sign with Dallas. She is a human being she is not computer program. The article disregards the human element of this being her life-long dream in which she has had for example "720 Days between NCAA Tournament games" at one point. To risk all this, her life's dream, for example an injury, which is a very real possibility just makes her not playing in the WNBA this year and suggesting she has legit options a bit over-the-top imo. Using the NFL as a comparison ignores Paige's dream of playing at her peak for the one sport she has dreamed of playing as a kid vs Elway who was fine playing either / or.

At 2:07 below she says ". . . not playing in the most important part of basketball which you prepared for your entire life . . . " Then at about 5:min mark asked why she does so well in tight games she speaks of all the hard work she put in the gym (as she says "it's what you prepare for on your best at the biggest stage at the biggest level . . . to be up there with those names is really insane) and even as a 5-6 year old kid of "embracing those moments. . . ."
. . ."



Paige imo knows she is "fortunate" in being healthy. The WNBA while doesn't pay much but it's the competition. It's what she said above instead of a computer that can be programmed to think "business buisness business." To further this, if she were to get hurt, the writer and the fans don't have to live with repercussions. She came back imo in part to build up her body (Azzi should come back too). She is now playing at peak level. To risk all of that of what you dreamed since 5 years old of not competing against the best on the world (Europe isn't like that. The players all spread out after WNBA Season, don't they?), after as she says all the hard work etc. imo is extremely far-fetched.

And I don't believe I can add another YT video here but if anyone wants to search go on YT and type in "Paige Bueckers Reveals What She Really Thinks About Caitlin Clark" - they quote Paige that she said among other super complimentary things of Clark that she hopes she won't garner that type of attention rather it's important for the game to share the spotlight. While some might argue she is thinking of bigger picture, just remember above she is also speaking of her own hard work she put and why "she" plays well in big moments and why "she" had told Geno when coming back from an injury "I'm different." And aside for risk of losing it so much if re-injured, the best thing for Women’s Basketball is for Paige to play. How is anything “wrong” if she is playing? She has little leverage. From Jurassic Park: T-Rex wants to hunt, Paige after all the injuries wants to hunt and play too. The wings should know this.
- -------
I no longer "want to fight this." I'm done.

 

[huskeynut]

We're in November and April is a long ways away. anything is possible.

Paige has her agent. They both know what has to be done. And nothing but speculation will happen until April.

Paige will focus on this season.

 

[oldude]

There is a video of Curt Miller and the Dallas Wings Brain Trust talking about their plans for the team, the expansion draft, the new facilities that are planned and the first draft pick, all while taking questions from local reporters. The video runs about 30 minutes.

The reporters questions are edited out, so we don’t know exactly what they were asked. To my utter astonishment, there was not a single mention of Paige Bueckers, or any other potential draft pick.

Somebody else mentioned that, “This is a business.” The Dallas Wings will evaluate all their options and they will make a business decision. Paige Bueckers and her agent will also evaluate all their options and they too will make a business decision.

This isn’t about trying to make everyone happy. Once Paige’s run as a Husky is over, her next decision on how to approach the WNBA draft has the potential to be worth many millions more, if she plays it right.

 

[boontonbomber]

Well, someone just needs to check in with God,and see what the plan is.

 

[Happydad745]

Paige Bueckers is a smart, savvy, sellable talent who has a lot to say about what she does or where she plays...Personally, I don't see her playing for Dallas for many reasons: Market, talent on the team, history and some I can't think of, but mostly because she is used to playing with the best and in a positive environment at UConn.