SPOKANE, Wash. – UConn star Paige Bueckers put an end to the speculation once and for all.

Bueckers, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft, told ESPN on Friday that she plans to declare for this year’s draft, which will take place on April 14.  

Bueckers’ comments ended months of speculation regarding what she might do after this season. 

Bueckers has one year of NCAA eligibility left, but she recently told reporters this college season would be her last.

Some wondered whether she would take time off this summer and sit out the 2025 WNBA season because the Dallas Wings, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, reportedly weren’t Bueckers’ preferred landing spot.

There also might have been financial incentive to sit out one summer. The WNBA is entering the final season of its current collective bargaining agreement and is expected to have a more lucrative salary structure in place for rookies for the 2026 season.

But now it appears Bueckers soon will be trading in her navy UConn threads for a different shade of blue. 

The Wings are likely celebrating the confirmation.

Bueckers has led the No. 2 seeded Huskies to the Sweet 16. They will play No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old guard had made the Final Four every season she’s been healthy, but has yet to win a national championship. If she can’t get the job done, then she’ll leave Connecticut as the Huskies’ best all-time player never to captured a title. 

Bueckers is averaging 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals this season while posting impressive shooting splits of .542/.411/.902. 

If her shooting percentages hold, Bueckers would become only the 24th women’s college player to be part of the elusive 50-40-90 club (minimum 25 games). She’d join Sue Bird as the only Connecticut players to accomplish such a feat.