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Paige Bueckers has become one of the most talked-about names ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft, but her destination may not be as certain as it once seemed.
Despite widespread predictions placing her as the No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Wings, fresh rumors suggest the UConn star might have her sights set elsewhere-most notably, the Los Angeles Sparks.
Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller has made it clear he wants Bueckers in a Wings uniform.
"How about them apples for the No. 1 pick?" Miller recently said, signaling his confidence in drafting the 23-year-old sensation.
The Wings secured the top pick back in November 2024, and Bueckers' consistent dominance on the college stage has only fueled assumptions that she's destined to land in Dallas. But as draft night draws near, that assumption is beginning to unravel.
Conflicting signals as draft day looms
In a recent episode of the Locked On: Women's Basketball podcast, host Howard Megdal raised eyebrows by questioning the certainty of Bueckers' commitment to the Wings.
"By virtue of the circumstances, [Bueckers] has so many other options ... is she going to want to sign in Dallas?" Megdal mused.
His comments point to a growing sense that Bueckers may not be fully sold on the idea of ing the Texas-based franchise, despite Miller's public optimism.
Adding to the intrigue, Megdal suggested that Miller's actions behind the scenes may tell a different story than his public statements.
"Miller would not be sending messages to Paige on introductory Zooms for four other players," he noted.
That detail implies that Dallas may be quietly preparing alternatives if Bueckers opts to steer her career in another direction.
Even so, Curt Miller has continued to project a unified message of certainty. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, he insisted that there has been no indication of resistance from Bueckers or any top-tier prospect.
"We have not heard anything directly that any person eligible for this draft would not want to play in Dallas," Miller said. "In fact, Arike hears from most of the top possible draft picks in this class, and they're all really, really excited about possibly pairing with Arike."