WNBA Commissioner Responds to Paige Bueckers's ...
The former UConn Huskies star officially inked a big deal to join Unrivaled before the WNBA draft.
www.si.comHere’s the latest known information on Paige Bueckers’ contract situation, as of 2025.
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Paige Bueckers signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, positioning her ownership/ equity via NIL arrangements with the brand. This contract was reported ahead of the WNBA draft and was notable because the first-year compensation in Unrivaled would exceed what she would earn in her initial WNBA rookie contract if she were the top pick [sources referenced in reports from ESPN and outlets like On3 and College Sports Network]. This marked a major cross-league move for a high-profile college star and drew attention to alternative pro pathways for women’s basketball players.[1][2][5]
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In parallel, there were expectations that she would be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft and sign a standard four-year rookie contract with the Dallas Wings, with the 2025 season salary projected near $78,831 under the WNBA CBA, and potential increases in later years if options are exercised. However, the Unrivaled agreement occurred concurrently, creating a multi-league dynamic for her professional start.[3][4]
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Reports noted that after the draft, Bueckers’ WNBA contract with Dallas (three-year deal with a club option for 2028, starting around $79k in 2025) would be separate from her Unrivaled deal, which had its own terms and potential equity implications. This combination highlighted how top college stars might navigate both WNBA commitments and alternative professional opportunities.[1][3]
Important caveats
- The information circulating in 2024–2025 about Unrivaled and Bueckers’ contract was driven by reports from ESPN and various outlets; exact monetary figures can vary by source and are subject to change with league developments and new deals or league changes after 2025.[2][3][1]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current confirmations and summarize any new developments from the latest reporting, and format a concise timeline. Would you like me to do that?
Citations:
- Reports on Unrivaled three-year deal and NIL equity involving Paige Bueckers.[1]
- ESPN reporting on the three-year Unrivaled agreement and its context ahead of the WNBA Draft.[2]
- WNBA contract structures and rookie-year salary expectations for top pick scenarios.[3]