Projected No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers is signing a three-year deal with the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled, sources revealed to ESPN. Bueckers' salary for her first year in the 10-week Unrivaled season is expected to surpass what she would earn in four years under a WNBA rookie contract. If she is chosen as the top draft pick, Bueckers would earn $78,831 in her first year, according to the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement.
Bueckers previously signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Unrivaled, which included equity in the league, though she did not play while completing her college career at UConn, where she won a national title. In her last season at UConn, Bueckers averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 53.4% from the field. Her signing aligns with Unrivaled's strategy to attract top talent, following its first season that exceeded $27 million in revenue. Founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart in 2023, Unrivaled aims to create a sustainable offseason playing opportunity for WNBA players by focusing on signing elite athletes rather than expanding its teams.