Paige Bueckers Honored With 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, the WNBA announced Thursday. The honor recognizes her commitment to expanding access to sports, education and essential resources for young people and families.

Established in 2008 and named in honor of WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the award recognizes a current player who exemplifies Staley’s leadership, charitable efforts, love for the game and commitment to inspiring others through community service.

“Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents,” Staley said. “Through her leadership, compassion, and commitment to service, Paige uses her platform to uplift communities and inspire the next generation. I’m proud to honor her for making a difference that reaches far beyond basketball.”

From her home state of Minnesota to her WNBA home in Dallas, Bueckers has used her platform and partnerships to create opportunities for others. Her community efforts have focused on addressing food insecurity, supporting students and families, and providing young athletes with access to basketball and mentorship.

“With every partnership I take on, it’s really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component,” Bueckers said. “I’ve been fortunate to have so many people and communities invest in me throughout my life, and I want to pay that forward by using my platform to create opportunities for the next generation. Whether that’s through sports, education, food security or mentorship, I want to make sure people have access to opportunities they might not otherwise have. Sports have given me so much, and I think they can be such a powerful way to bring people together, build community and create opportunity.”

In Minnesota, Bueckers partnered with Gatorade to refurbish a basketball court where she played growing up and provide a $25,000 donation to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, a nonprofit that supports student-athletes through mental health resources, social-emotional learning and academic enrichment.

She also hosted a free basketball camp for 95 middle school and high school girls in Minnetonka, combining her passion for the game with her commitment to inspiring the next generation.

Her support for her hometown community extends beyond basketball. Through a partnership with Goodr, Bueckers funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School. Earlier this year, she also donated $50,000 to the Hopkins Education Foundation to support Hopkins Public Schools students and families in need.

In Dallas, Bueckers has continued her community involvement through programs that connect young people with role models and promote inclusion through basketball.

She participated in the Wings’ annual Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas, mentored 12 community players on the Dallas Wings Dream Team during their signing-day event and attended the team’s All Girls Summer Camp to encourage participants.

Bueckers also contributed signed memorabilia to support the Dallas Wings Community Foundation’s fundraising efforts and participated in its fifth-anniversary Kicks for a Cause celebration, which raised more than $120,000 for community programs.

Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez praised Bueckers for her dedication to making a difference both on and off the court.

“Paige Bueckers represents the true meaning of leadership, both on and off the basketball court. Through her actions, she has demonstrated a commitment to empowering others, inspiring the next generation and using her platform to make a meaningful difference,” Fernandez said. “Paige’s impact extends far beyond basketball, making her a role model for young athletes and a leader in the community.”

A designated committee of WNBA and NBA leadership selected Bueckers as the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

As part of the recognition, the WNBA will donate $10,000 to Good Sports, a nonprofit selected by Bueckers that works to expand access to youth sports and physical activity.

The organization supports children in underserved communities by providing new sports equipment, apparel and footwear, helping create opportunities for young people to participate in athletics and reach their potential.