The Dallas Wings' rising star Paige Bueckers was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday in a standout season for the former NCAA champion.
Bueckers received 70 out of 72 votes from the panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who are tasked with honoring a new recruit with the title. The 23-year-old guard was the No.1 draft pick earlier this year, brought on to the Wings just days after helping her University of Connecticut team win a NCAA championship.
She was given the trophy on Tuesday during an appearance at the Jennifer Hudson show, which has a viral tradition of having its guests walk down a "spirit tunnel" to get to the stage.
"Paige Bueckers at JHud, shooting buckets she's the one," the show's staff chanted as she walked.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stepped out halfway through to present Bueckers with the trophy. The chant changed to "Rookie of the Year" as the 23-year-old finished her walk.
Bueckers joins WNBA icons such as Diana Taurasi, Breanna Steward, A'Ja Wilson, and Napheesa Collier, who were all voted Rookie of the Year in their debut seasons.
Caitlin Clark, another young star who joined the league after an exceptional collegiate career, received the title last year.
Despite a tough season for the Wings, Bueckers became the fastest rookie to reach 500 points and 100 assists in WNBA history. She scored at least 10 points in each of her first 30 games and averaged at least 15 points and 5 assists.
Bueckers led the rookie class this year in total points, points per game and assists.
One shining example of the phenomenal year Bueckers has had on the court was during the Wings' 80-81 loss last month against the Los Angeles Sparks. Bueckers racked up 44 points, a career-high and the highest point total for this WNBA season.
Bueckers told NBC News before her first professional game this year that she was living out her childhood dream, one that pushes her to "continue to build and get better."
“You’re just trying to be grateful for it, like you worked so hard to get here, you had so many people invest in you to get here," she said. "So it was really a group effort, and it took a village."
