Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers received the WNBA’s 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award on Thursday, November 5, recognizing charitable work that stretches far beyond the basketball court. The honor, named for the Hall of Fame player and coach, celebrates a current WNBA athlete whose service, leadership and dedication to others reflect the values associated with Staley. Bueckers was selected by a committee of WNBA and NBA leaders.
In Minnesota, Bueckers helped refurbish a court where she played growing up and supported a $25,000 donation to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, which serves student-athletes. She also held a free basketball camp for 95 girls, helped establish a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School and contributed $50,000 to an education foundation serving local families. In Dallas, she participated in Special Olympics programming, mentored members of the Wings’ community Dream Team and supported team foundation fundraisers. The WNBA said it will donate $10,000 to Good Sports, the youth-sports nonprofit selected by Bueckers.
The recognition arrives after another standout season for Bueckers, who averaged 20.9 points and 5.9 assists in 2026 while helping Dallas reach the playoffs. Yet the award highlights a different kind of impact: access to food, education, mentorship and opportunities to play. With attention on the WNBA continuing to grow, Bueckers is making service part of her public platform, giving young fans a reason to follow her work long after the final buzzer.