“How about them apples for the No. 1 pick?” the Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller recently said about Paige Bueckers. Given the mark the 23-year-old has created in college basketball, it is no surprise that the mock 2025 WNBA drafts list her as the No. 1 overall pick. Since the Dallas Wings won the draft lottery back in November 2024, many believed Bueckers’s destination was set in stone.

But recent speculations suggest she may prefer the Los Angeles Sparks instead. Based on the Wings GM’s public statements, he appears confident that Bueckers will commit to his team. However, two podcast hosts have highlighted that the college star needs to be more open.

In a recent episode of the ‘Locked On: Women’s Basketball’ podcast, Howard Megdal highlighted that “By virtue of the circumstances, [Bueckers] has so many other options … is she going to want to sign in Dallas?”. The rumors suggest Bueckers hasn’t made up her mind yet. Additionally, Curt Miller himself might still be unaware of the ongoing decision-making process. As Megdal points out, “Miller would not be sending messages to Paige on introductory Zooms for four other players.”

The remarks by Megdal came as Miller persistently claimed that Paige Bueckers will be joining the Dallas Wings. Around 2 weeks ago, Miller directly told ‘The Dallas Morning News’ that “We have not heard anything directly that any person eligible for this draft would not want to play in Dallas. In fact, Arike hears from most of the top possible draft picks in this class, and they’re all really, really excited about possibly pairing with Arike”. NCAA analyst Robin Lundberg would later discuss these remarks. He highlighted that “The fact that it got big enough where he felt the need to address it is significant”.

Miller’s unwavering confidence in drafting Bueckers suggests that he either has inside information or is attempting to publicly pressure the player’s camp. After all, if Paige were indecisive, openly stating it wouldn’t push the 56-year-old to take swipes and offer assurances.

The upcoming WNBA draft was already expected to have major storylines. Several stars like Kiki Iriafen, Hailey Van Lith and Georgia Amoore have already upped their stats before the big day. Now, there is another major thing to watch out for.

Will Paige Bueckers go ‘full Eli Manning’ if she is picked by the Dallas Wings?

A star player can have a big effect on a sports team. In the WNBA’s case, the most recent example can be of Caitlin Clark. Her arrival in the league reportedly led to an increase in game viewership and ticket sales. As a result, the Indiana Fever will have 41 of its 44 games broadcast next season. Therefore, one cannot blame Curt Miller for being excited that Paige Bueckers will be joining their team. Plus, Bueckers won’t have a choice if she is chosen as the No. 1 pick, anyway. Or, will she?

Back in January, Howard Megdal appeared on the Hoffman Women’s Sports show. He claimed that sources close to the situation suggest Paige Bueckers’ move to Dallas is far from certain. Megdal added, “I have reported over at the IX Newsletter that there is a widely held belief around the league that [Bueckers] is going to go full Eli Manning”. The WNBA journalist also revealed, “I asked eight WNBA talent evaluators what chance they put on Bueckers’ representatives attempting the same maneuver as Eli Manning. Estimates ranged from 90% to 200%.”

Elli Manning was the speculated, and eventual, No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. The San Diego Chargers had the first overall pick due to their 4–12 record back in 2003. However, Manning opposed the Chargers’ move right from the start. He famously refused to play for the team after the draft. Manning took matters into his own hands by orchestrating a trade to the New York Giants for No. 4 pick Philip Rivers.

Unlike the NBA or NFL, WNBA draftees have fewer options when it comes to forcing a move. With rookie contracts lasting up to four years, a player refusing to sign could mean sitting out valuable seasons with no guaranteed alternative. This makes an ‘Eli Manning-style’ maneuver far riskier for Bueckers.

Curt Miller can talk up his No. 1 pick all he wants, but Paige Bueckers’ silence is speaking volumes. If the rumors are true and she wants Los Angeles, this becomes a player challenging the system. For decades, WNBA rookies have accepted their fate, but Bueckers might be the first to say ‘No.’ The question now is whether Dallas can keep her. Because if this situation spirals into an Eli Manning-style standoff, the Wings’ biggest win of the offseason could turn into their most public defeat.