Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents,
said Dawn Staley.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers won the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award on Nov. 5, 2026, as announced by the WNBA.
The WNBA grants the honor annually to a player who demonstrates charitable leadership and community service. A designated committee of WNBA and NBA leadership selected Bueckers for her ongoing work in Connecticut, Minnesota, and Texas. The league will direct a $10,000 donation to Good Sports, a nonprofit chosen by Bueckers that supplies children with athletic equipment.
Bueckers built her philanthropic track record by attaching charitable components to her commercial endorsement deals. While playing at UConn, she partnered with Chegg to donate $50,000 to the Husky Harvest food pantry. She later teamed up with Gatorade to refurbish a basketball court in Minnesota and send $25,000 to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, a group providing mental health resources and educational programs for young athletes.
Her work in her home state also includes funding a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School through a partnership with Goodr. She also donated $50,000 to the Hopkins Education Foundation. With every partnership I take on, it’s really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component,
Bueckers said.
Since joining the WNBA, Bueckers has expanded her local outreach to North Texas. She participated in the Wings’ annual Unified Game alongside the Special Olympics of North Texas and mentored 12 players in the Dallas Wings Dream Team program. She also signed memorabilia to aid the Dallas Wings Community Foundation and supported its Kicks for a Cause fundraiser, which generated more than $120,000 for local programs.
Paige Bueckers represents the true meaning of leadership, both on and off the basketball court,
Wings Head Coach Fernandez said.
Paige Bueckers is the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award 🏆 Recognized for her dedication to giving back and making a difference beyond the court. “Whether that’s through sports, education, food security or mentorship, I want to make sure people have… pic.twitter.com/iN84X1z0s8”
Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers Earns 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award pic.twitter.com/IpNZuMhTep
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