Single-pixel imaging (SPI) achieves numerous advantages over traditional imaging methods, such as multi-wavelength detection and non-local imaging. In this paper, we report a novel single-pixel imaging technique based on discrete W transform (DWT). In this method, we adopt the star sampling strategy to generate two sets of W basis patterns, these patterns are used to differentially modulate the light source, then the spectrum of the target object is acquired from the light intensities measured by a single-pixel detector. Finally, inverse DWT is utilized the to reconstruct the image. Therefore, high-quality images can be retrieved quickly from sub-Nyquist measurements compared with other transform domain SPI methods. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.