While the next WNBA season may feel far off, one storyline has everyone buzzing: college sensation Paige Bueckers is ready to make her mark on the big stage. Fans widely anticipate that the UConn Huskies standout will be the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, with several teams eager to secure her talents. To top it all off, Bueckers recently earned recognition as an AP All-Preseason American, further boosting her popularity and excitement among fans.

“I just feel like I’m not done yet here. I feel like God is still writing my story here,” the 23-year-old while announcing her decision to return for one last year with the Huskies. Despite already spending four years in college and being projected as the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, she’s excited to make the most of her final season. Well, with her rising popularity, it’s evident that her NIL value and net worth are also on the upswing as she heads into this pivotal year.

Paige Bueckers’ NIL Valuation: Impressive brand portfolio and endorsement success

Paige Bueckers, affectionately nicknamed “Buckets” for her scoring ability, has solidified her place in basketball history, often drawing comparisons to stars like Caitlin Clark. Her on-court prowess not only enhances her reputation but also significantly boosts her financial prospects as the UConn red-shirt senior has already landed lucrative partnerships with several leading brands.

Her NIL portfolio includes partnerships with various brands, such as Ibotta, Bleeding Blue For Good, Nike (GT Hustle 2 sneaker), Dunkin’, Leaf Trading Cards (for her trading cards), Chegg (as the first brand ambassador for a student-athlete), Gatorade (making her the first student-athlete to secure a NIL deal with them), The Players Trunk, Nerf, Bose (QCE II earbuds), GoArmy, and the UConn NIL Store.

These deals have significantly boosted her NIL valuation, estimating it at around $1.4 million, according to On3. This impressive figure places her second among college women’s basketball players, just behind Flau’jae Johnson from Louisiana State University, who has a valuation of $1.5 million. Overall, Bueckers ranks 19th on the NIL 100 list.

This year, she has added an impressive eight endorsement deals to her portfolio. Her year began with a collaboration with the UConn NIL Store in January, and by March, she had also signed deals with Bose and Topps.

Recently, she also received an incredible gift from Nike that has fans buzzing. According to Sole Retriever, she made history by being honored with her own exclusive edition shoes; the GT Hustle 3 PE. She also inked a deal with Madison Reed, a well-known beauty and hair care brand. Alongside her teammate Azzi Fudd, Bueckers serves as a brand ambassador for the company.

What truly distinguishes the Minnesota native from her peers is her groundbreaking deal that gives her ownership equity in Unrivaled, a new professional women’s league. This makes her the first active college athlete to hold such a stake in a league co-founded by former UConn stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

With her impressive NIL value on the rise, it’s clear that Paige Bueckers’ overall net worth has also seen a boost. As she prepares to transition into the WNBA, one can expect this figure to climb even higher, reflecting her growing brand and potential as a professional athlete.

Paige Bueckers’ net worth and financial future: Expected WNBA salary and additional source of income

Back in April 2024, Paige Bueckers’ estimated net worth stood at an impressive $1.5 million, a figure that followed her standout performance leading UConn to the Final Four. While we don’t know her current net worth precisely, it has likely increased since then. At that time, her NIL value was around $652,000, but with an impressive surge of over 100% in her NIL valuation since then, her net worth could now be in the range of $1.5 to $2 million.

However, Bueckers doesn’t earn a salary as a college athlete. But that will change after her final year with UConn. Once she enters the WNBA draft, she can expect an income from her rookie contract. For instance, Caitlin Clark earned about $76,000 in her first season, and Bueckers could receive a similar amount or even more based on the new CBA, significantly boosting her earnings as she embarks on her professional career.

Well, not waiting for WNBA entry, she has already diversified her income streams by serving as an advisor for Overtime Select, a basketball league tailored for high school girls launched by the sports media company Overtime. In addition, she took a savvy step by filing for a trademark on her nickname, “Paige Buckets.” This trademark allows her to brand athletic apparel like hats, shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, and uniforms, giving her additional revenue opportunities beyond her NIL deals.

Therefore, as she prepares for her final season at UConn, her soaring popularity and impressive NIL portfolio set the stage for a remarkable transition to the WNBA.