TIME Names Paige Bueckers Among 2025 World’s Most Influential Rising Stars

Paige Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential Rising Stars, recognized for her outstanding rookie season with the Dallas Wings where she averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, who wrote the blurb for Bueckers in Time, praised her for her leadership, work ethic, and ability to uplift her teammates, calling her the best player on the court nearly all the time and highlighting her passing skills as a distinguishing trait. Alongside Bueckers, tennis star Taylor Fritz was also named in the Phenoms section of the list, noted for his rise to a top-five global ranking and strong performances at major tennis tournaments. Other athletes such as golfer Jeeno Thitikul and cricket prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal were also recognized. The list features a broad range of rising stars across sports, music, and other fields who are considered to be shaping the future. Bueckers' inclusion underscores her impact both on and off the court as a young athlete with a promising career ahead.