Paige Bueckers has been selected as the No. 1 pick by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA draft following her outstanding performance in leading UConn to victory in the 2025 March Madness tournament. Bueckers, a 23-year-old from Minnesota, is not only an exceptional player but also a social media star, with a NIL valuation of $1.4 million, far exceeding her expected WNBA rookie salary of $78,831. This disparity in earnings highlights the ongoing debate regarding compensation for female athletes compared to their male counterparts in professional sports, especially in the context of NCAA reforms that allow athletes to profit from their name and image.
Bueckers' NIL valuation for the 2024-25 season was estimated to be around $1.4 million—almost 18 times the amount she will make as a rookie in the WNBA.
Her phenomenal success on the court has also led to lucrative projects away from the stadiums, including impressive sponsorships due to her millions of social media followers.
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