Hailed as one of the best women’s basketball players in the country today, UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers is projected to be the first overall pick in the next WNBA Draft. However, a WNBA general manager is concerned about Bueckers’ ability to stay healthy.
In an interview with The Athletic published on Tuesday, general managers in the women’s league were asked about the top prospects in this year’s draft, identifying the pros and cons of choosing them with the early picks. When asked about Bueckers, most of them praised her talent, but one interviewee mentioned one of her deficiencies.
“My only concerns with Paige are physical,” the general manager said. “If she can stay healthy, I think she’s an All-Star level talent.”
Paige Bueckers is among the best players UConn has produced in recent memory, breaking school records in her four-year stay in the program. As she chases her first national championship alongside Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, the excitement around her potentially joining the WNBA only grows.
However, despite performing at an All-American level for the last two seasons, Bueckers’s injury history has been a cause for concern. She missed 19 games during her sophomore season due to a meniscus tear, and she was out of the entire 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL.
Regardless of her past injuries. Bueckers is still widely considered the top prospect for the Dallas Wings in this year’s upcoming draft.
What Paige Bueckers brings to the table for the Dallas Wings
Despite being critical about the injuries that held Paige Bueckers back in the past, the anonymous WNBA general manager still praised the UConn star’s skill saying that her talent will translate well into the professional league.
“She can play with or without the ball which makes her super valuable,” the general manager said in the interview with The Athletic on Tuesday. “She scores at all three levels. She’s big and tall and long enough to survive defensively. I think her offense is better than her defense, but it’s hard to find things not to like about Paige.”
When compared to her contemporaries in this year’s draft class, Bueckers is the most experienced and proven player, averaging 19.2 points and 4.8 assists through 34 games this season. Her 50/40/90 shooting splits also showcase her scoring efficiency, not to mention her capability as a team leader that she could bring to the Wings.
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