The WNBA world was buzzing Wednesday after an anonymous survey of league general managers revealed a surprising top pick: most executives said they'd build a franchise around Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick. The result caught many off guard, especially since Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark—the 2024 top pick and a household name—was widely expected to claim the honor.

Bueckers, who has quickly made her mark in the league, was asked about the vote during Wednesday's practice. Her response was humble and heartfelt. "Yeah, it's really cool just to have that mutual respect amongst people who live in this area or live in this space and who really understand the game," she said. "And there's so many amazing basketball players to choose from. I feel like there's so many people I would choose to start my team with. So for them to think that highly of me, I'm very grateful, very blessed. And yeah, I mean, yeah, just grateful."

It's worth noting that Clark missed all but 13 games last season due to various soft tissue injuries, which may have influenced the GMs' decision. Until she returns to the court and proves she's back to her All-WNBA form, it's tough to fault executives for waiting to hand her the top spot. In a perfect twist of fate, Bueckers and Clark will open their seasons against each other on Saturday, in a game that will feature the last four No. 1 overall picks—a matchup that's sure to be must-watch basketball.