Paige Bueckers wins 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year

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Paige Bueckers wins WNBA Rookie of the Year award

Paige Bueckers is the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, the league announced early Tuesday, as the Dallas guard becomes the fifth straight No. 1 draft pick to win the award.

• Bueckers is the first Wings ROY since Allisha Gray in 2017, after averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.4% from the field in her debut year. (See full stats)

• The 23-year-old was the only player this season to finish in the Top 10 leaguewide in points, assists, and steals per game, becoming the fastest rookie in WNBA history to reach 500 points and 100 assists.

Big picture: While the 2025 Rookie Class featured several high performers, the ROY vote proved to be near unanimous, as Bueckers received 70 of the sports media panel’s 72 votes — with two votes going to Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron.

• While the race tightened when Citron heated up mid-season, Bueckers’s August 20th rookie-record 44-point performance against LA likely shut the door to any challengers.

• “I know that we continue to do things the right way, we continue to believe in each other, continue to invest our whole lives into this basketball thing, the results will come,” Bueckers told reporters after Dallas ended the season with a 10-34 record — securing the highest odds for next year’s No. 1 pick.

USWNT sets end-of-year friendlies against Italy

The USWNT announced their 2025 season finale on Monday, setting a pair of friendlies against Italy at Orlando’s Inter & Co Stadium on November 28th and Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on December 1st.

• Facing the US for the first time in 15 years, Italy’s recent semifinal run at the 2025 Euros shot them to No. 12 in the world rankings.

• “As we prepare for World Cup qualifying at the end of 2026, we want to play teams from all parts of the world with different styles and different strengths, so getting to play Italy, one of Europe’s up-and-coming teams, will be a great way to end the year,” said USWNT manager Emma Hayes. (See full statement)

Big picture: After an extended break following a series of early July matchups, the US has five matches left on the books, with the slate against Italy rounding out three already-announced October friendlies.

• The USWNT kicks off next month’s lineup with two matches against Euro 2025 participant Portugal, followed by a third against New Zealand.

The road ahead: As Hayes’s year of roster evaluation comes to a close, expect stakes to rise as the 2027 World Cup comes into sharper view.

Las Vegas shoots to oust Seattle with win No. 18

Red-hot No. 2 Las Vegas hits the court tonight, facing off against No. 7 Seattle in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs with both their 18th consecutive victory and a trip to the second round on the line.

• “You guys celebrate this more than we do,” MVP frontrunner A'ja Wilson said, brushing off the team’s recent dominance. “The streak stopped in the regular season.”

• “It’s the first to nine wins, so that’s how we want to approach it,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon echoed, emphasizing a renewed focus on retaking the WNBA crown.

On the line: Following the league’s new home-away-home first-round format, Seattle has the chance to extend their season at home, as the Storm arrives back in market with few answers after Game 1’s 102-77 loss.

• “Our fans deserve for us to play well,” Seattle forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “We have to figure out how to do it, no matter what. That’s going to be the test on Tuesday.”

Tune in: Seattle will try stay alive against Las Vegas at 9:30 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Indiana fights for survival against Atlanta in Game 2

No. 6 Indiana will host their first home playoff game in nearly a decade tonight with their backs against the wall, facing elimination at the hands of No. 3 Atlanta.

• “I think you give yourself an edge as the home team. When they punched us, they punched us hard,” Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell said after Sunday’s loss in Atlanta. “So we have to do the same thing.”

• “I would like to think that being back at home can kind of give us a sense of comfort, so hopefully we could use it for what it's worth and not take it for granted,” she continued.

Big picture: Mitchell will likely be the key to Indiana’s survival, after an onslaught of season-ending injuries forced the three-time All-Star to step up as a scoring leader — with Mitchell answering the call by dropping a postseason career-high 27 points in Game 1.

• “It’s a lot of little things,” said Indiana head coach Stephanie White. “I like where we are, I’m proud of our group for continuing to fight, and we’re going to be better on Tuesday.”

Tune in: The Fever tip off against the Dream tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ESPN.

NWSLPA addresses Savannah DeMelo’s mid-match collapse

After Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the pitch on Sunday, both the NWSL Player’s Association issued statements addressing the midfielder’s first-half medical event and the decision to postpone the remainder of the game.

• Cameras quickly cut away from the scene as trainers rushed to DeMelo’s side, with players clearing the field for an early halftime before reemerging to announce the then-scoreless match against Seattle would be abandoned.

• Racing later notified fans that DeMelo was “stable and alert,” while several reporters referenced the 27-year-old’s recent Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism diagnosis.

Big picture: The situation follows Angel City defender Savy King’s own mid-match collapse in May, with the league opting to continue play once King was transported off the pitch — a call the NWSLPA heavily criticized.

• “Postponing the match was the right decision, as nothing is more important than the safety of players and staff on the field,” the NWSLPA wrote. “This is a challenging time for all those affected, and we ask for continued respect of everyone's privacy.”

Up next: The NWSL announced late Monday that the teams will play out the match’s second half tonight at 8 PM ET behind closed doors at Lumen Field.

• While fans won’t be allowed in the stadium, game will be televised, with coverage starting at 8 PM ET on NWSL+ and Paramount+.

USA Basketball hires Elena Delle Donne as 3×3 managing director

WNBA legend Elena Delle Donne is returning to the court, with USA Basketball announcing that two-time league MVP will join the 3×3 Women’s National Team as its first-ever managing director.

• The 36-year-old retired in April, capping a career that spanned winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and 2018 FIBA World Cup with Team USA plus two WNBA championships.

• “Elena has been a member of the USA Basketball family for almost 15 years,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in Monday’s press release. “Her wealth of knowledge of the sport of basketball and our organization will be an asset as we continue our journey.”

Shaping the future: As part of her duties, Delle Donne will be responsible for selecting the team’s coaching staff and players ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics, FIBA 3x3 World Cup, and other major international competitions.

• “USA Basketball was an important part of my on-court career for a decade and a half. To have the opportunity to continue my journey with the organization, and to help shape and grow the 3x3 program, is something that I take very seriously,” Delle Donne said. “I’m excited to get started.”

Quote of the day

UConn star Azzi Fudd
on her pick for the tightly contested 2025 WNBA MVP race.