There is no greater dynasty across North American sports than the UConn Huskies. Since 2000, the men’s team has boasted five titles, which seems impressive until you look at the women’s squad, which has 11 national championships in the same span.
Geno Auriemma has led the Lady Huskies to more glory than any other coach across the sport, and has recruited and built dozens of stars along the way. His most recent superstar, Paige Bueckers, was picked first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings and put together one of the better rookie seasons in history.
After averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals, Bueckers took home Rookie of the Year honors.
In the NBA, Stephon Castle is the reigning MVP. Like Bueckers, he won a national title while at UConn and enjoyed early success with the San Antonio Spurs.
GettyStephon Castle of Connecticut celebrates after a made shot.
Stephon Castle Predicted Paige Buckers’ ROTY Win
As the first overall pick and one of the most complete guard prospects to enter the WNBA (including Caitlin Clark), Bueckers was the early favorite to win Rookie of the Year, and the race was never really close.
While Castle was a top choice in the NBA ROTY race, he never had such a commanding lead. Alexandre Sarr, Jared McCain, Donovan Clingan, and several others had similar odds to win before the season started, although Castle played a big role on the Spurs and managed to lead rookies in scoring, sealing his case.
“She texted me when I won Rookie of the Year, and I told her she was next, and here we are,” Castle told ESports Insider’s D.J. Siddiqi. “We both won it. Super happy for her.”
Picking Buekers to take home the award was hardly a crazy choice for Castle, although the pair have now made basketball history.
GettyDallas Wings’ star rookie Paige Bueckers stands at midcourt during a Dallas Wings’ game.
Castle and Bueckers Make History for UConn
Castle joined Emeka Okafor (2005) as the only UConn Huskies to win the NBA Rookie of the Year. Bueckers, on the other hand, became the seventh Husky to win the WNBA award.
In the WNBA, South Carolina (three), Tennessee (three), Louisiana Tech (two), LSU (two), and Stanford (two) can boast multiple ROTYs, although Castle and Bueckers mark the first time the same school has won it in both leagues in the same year.
While the Wings build around Bueckers, the Spurs will certainly use Castle as a second or third star behind Victor Wembanyama, who cemented himself as the franchise player with a ROTY campaign of his own in the 2023-24 season. Castle, unlike Bueckers, has some concerns about his offensive game, including a shaky outside shot. Both, however, are solid point-of-attack defenders and facilitators.
Bueckers is quickly rivaling A’ja Wilson and Clark as the face of the WNBA, and while the Wings finished with the worst record in the league, they are a team on the rise with a young superstar to build around.
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