WNBA names Paige Bueckers as the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The WNBA has named Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers as the recipient of the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, the league announced on Nov. 5, 2026. The award, established in 2008 and named in honour of WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, recognizes a current WNBA player whose community service and leadership reflect Staley’s spirit and values, including meaningful charitable efforts and an inspirational presence that stands out in the communities that matter most to them.

In announcing the selection, the WNBA said the award honours a player whose commitment to service distinguishes them as a community leader, with attention to their efforts to expand access to sports, education and essential resources for young people and families. Staley, speaking in a public statement included with the announcement, said, “Paige Bueckers embodies the spirit of what this award, established in my name, represents,” adding that Bueckers “uses her platform to uplift communities and inspire the next generation.” Staley continued, “I’m proud to honor her for making a difference that reaches far beyond basketball.”

Bueckers also addressed the recognition, describing her approach to her partnerships and community involvement. “With every partnership I take on, it’s really important to me to include a charity or community engagement component,” she said. She added that she wants to “pay that forward” by using her platform to create opportunities for the next generation across areas including sports, education, food security and mentorship, arguing that “sports have given me so much” and can “create opportunity.”

According to the WNBA, Bueckers’ impact has reached communities both in her home state of Minnesota and through her work connected to her WNBA team in Dallas. The league said her partnerships and efforts have addressed food insecurity, supported students and families, and helped young athletes access basketball and mentorship.

In Minnesota, the WNBA said Bueckers partnered with Gatorade to refurbish a court where she played growing up, and she also provided a $25,000 donation to Athletic Committed Enlightened Scholars, a nonprofit described in the announcement as supporting student-athletes through mental health support, socio-emotional learning and academic enrichment. The league further said she held a free basketball camp for 95 middle and high school girls in Minnetonka, combining participation in the sport with activities intended to inspire the next generation.

The league added that Bueckers’ support in her hometown community extends beyond basketball. Through a partnership with Goodr, the WNBA said she funded a free grocery store at Hopkins West Junior High School. The announcement also states that she donated $50,000 to the Hopkins Education Foundation to support students and families in need within Hopkins Public Schools.

In Dallas, the WNBA said Bueckers supported programs focused on connecting young people with role models and promoting inclusion through basketball. The announcement names her participation in the Wings’ annual Unified Game with Special Olympics of North Texas. It also states that she mentored the 12 community players on the Dallas Wings Dream Team during their signing-day event, and that she appeared at the team’s All Girls Summer Camp to encourage participants.

The WNBA also reported that Bueckers contributed signed memorabilia to support the Dallas Wings Community Foundation’s fundraising efforts, and that she supported the organization’s fifth-anniversary “Kicks for a Cause” celebration, which the league said raised more than $120,000 for community programs. In addition, the league stated that a designated committee of WNBA and NBA leadership selected Bueckers as the winner of the 2026 award.

Dallas Wings Head Coach Fernandez was included in the announcement with remarks about the selection. The WNBA quoted him saying, “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,” and added that “Paige’s impact extends far beyond basketball.”

The WNBA said the award carries a donation component tied to Bueckers’ charitable choice. The league stated it will make a $10,000 donation to Good Sports, a nonprofit selected by Bueckers that, according to the announcement, aims to drive equitable access in youth sports and physical activity by supporting children in high-need communities to reach their greatest potential both on the field and in life. The league said the organization does so by creating opportunities through donations of new sports equipment, apparel and footwear.

With the 2026 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, the WNBA’s announcement positions Bueckers’ community and youth-focused activities—spanning Minnesota and Dallas—as central to the recognition. The league’s statement ties the award’s purpose to service and leadership that extends beyond basketball, while also highlighting specific partnerships and initiatives described as addressing areas including student support, food security and mentorship.