“I want to prove that I’m a winner at every level,” Paige Bueckers told The Ringer before the 2024–25 season began. And she did exactly that. With a storybook finish to her college career at UConn, Bueckers now shifts her focus to the next chapter—life in the WNBA. As the basketball world holds its breath, expecting her name to be called first by the Dallas Wings, the star guard is also making moves off the WNBA court.

The projected number 1 of the upcoming draft is known to capture the headlines since her high school days, and while everyone keeps talking about her and the WNBA draft, this is different. According to sources from ESPN, Bueckers is signing a three-year deal with Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. Big move. Even before she steps on a WNBA court!

According to Front Office Sports, Paige Bueckers is about to cash in—big time. She’s set to make over $350,000 in her first season with the 3-on-3 league Unrivaled. To put that in perspective? That’s more than her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract which will be worth around $348,000. Yup, you read that right.

To break it down, her WNBA rookie salary with the Dallas Wings will start at $78,831 in 2025, and over four years, it’ll total about $348,198. Meanwhile, her Unrivaled paycheck for just 10 weeks could top that, with estimates suggesting it’s well above the league’s $222,222 average salary. That kind of money before her pro debut shows she’s not just a star on the court—she’s a business-savvy trailblazer.

Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart had the perfect response to the Paige Bueckers news. No long statement. No elaborate caption. Just one emoji. She took to X and posted, “🫡” A salute to everything Paige has done so far–and a nod to what’s coming. She’s earned every penny she’s about to make with Unrivaled.

But that emoji says more than meets the eye. Stewart’s not just hyping a new Unrivaled star—she’s cheering for a bigger shift. As someone who’s fought for better pay in women’s hoops, her quiet salute feels like a wink to Bueckers’ bold move, especially when WNBA salaries are still a hot topic. It’s like she’s saying, “You get it, Paige.”

Paige Bueckers enters the WNBA with a résumé few can match. She took college basketball by storm, winning Player of the Year as a freshman—a rare feat. Yes, injuries may have slowed her down, but they never dimmed her talent. Now, she’s fully healthy, locked in, and ready to bring the same magic she showed in the NCAA to the W. The league better be ready!

For Paige, this move isn’t coming out of nowhere. She’s been in the Unrivaled mix for a while now.

Paige Bueckers and her history with Unrivaled

Paige Bueckers is on track to becoming one of the top earners in women’s basketball. Between her Unrivaled deal and what she’ll make in the WNBA down the line, the numbers are stacking up. But her involvement with the league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier isn’t new!

Last year, Paige Bueckers signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled, securing something every player in the inaugural season of the league received—equity. She was one of the few college players, alongside Flau’jae Johnson, to have an Unrivaled deal.

That equity’s already paying off—Unrivaled’s first season pulled in over $27 million, way past what folks expected. The league’s 3-on-3 vibe, with only 36 players and an 8-week schedule, means big paychecks without the grind of overseas ball. Stars like A’ja Wilson jumped in, and now Paige is next. It’s no wonder Stewart’s throwing salutes—Paige is joining a movement she helped build.

While Flau’jae will have to wait for her turn to play in the league, Bueckers is ready to dive in headfirst from the very next season!

Here’s the bigger picture: Paige’s deal isn’t just about her—it’s a sign women’s basketball is finally getting its flowers. NCAA games are smashing viewership records, WNBA arenas are packed, and now Unrivaled’s showing players can cash in without leaving the States. Stewart and Collier started this league to shake things up, and snagging Paige proves they’re onto something huge. Her paycheck’s a reminder the game’s changing, and fast.

In a matter of hours, Paige Bueckers’ fate will be sealed as the WNBA Draft begins. All signs point to the Dallas Wings picking her, and while there was a lot of talk about Bueckers choosing to enter the W this year, even with potential salary increases next year under the new CBA agreement, those concerns can now be put to rest. With her Unrivaled contract, Bueckers has shown the world that she knows her money just as well as she knows her game!