Paige Bueckers makes announcement on basketball future in the NCAA
The future No.1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft is ready for another season with the UConn Huskies
As Paige Bueckers enters her fifth and final year with the UConn Huskies, the expectations are higher than ever for the standout athlete. Bueckers has amassed numerous accolades throughout her collegiate career, including being the only freshman to ever win the AP Player of the Year in 2021, beating out now-Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. This year, Bueckers is also a nominee for the ESPY award in the “Best Comeback Athlete” category, alongside Simone Biles,Joe Flacco, and Zion Williamson.
In a recent interview after a training session, Bueckers shared her excitement for the season, stating, “I’m enjoying it, being healthy in the offseason, just trying to get stronger.” Staying healthy will be crucial for her, especially given her history with injuries. She added “i’m learning how to play with pace and use my strength”
Dubbed “Paige Buckets” for her scoring prowess, Bueckers is set to be the face of college women’s basketball this upcoming season. She and the Huskies are aiming to replicate the success of their male counterparts, who are the reigning NCAA champions. At 22, with four seasons of collegiate play under her belt, Bueckers is determined to clinch her first national championship before making the leap to the WNBA.
Injuries have plagued Bueckers since the beginning. As a freshman, she led UConn to the Final Four and set records for assists. However, she missed most of her sophomore season due to a left knee injury but managed to lead her team to the national championship game, where they fell to South Carolina. Her junior season was cut short by a torn ACL. Last season, Bueckers bounced back, earning unanimous first-team All-American honors and leading the Huskies to the Final Four, where they lost a tight game to Caitlin Clark’s team, 71-69.
Remember when a 19-year old Paige Bueckers used her ESPY’s speech to call out the excessive coverage players who look like her receive in the media? pic.twitter.com/xzroOkIj4Q
— DFAntastic (@PhillyTradesman) April 2, 2024
Barring any injuries, regardless of how the 2024-2025 season ends, Bueckers is widely expected to be the number one pick in the next WNBA draft. Comparisons to Caitlin Clark are inevitable, but for now, Bueckers needs to focus on going as far as possible this season and learning from Clark’s experience under the spotlight. As Bueckers embarks on her final collegiate season, all eyes will be on her and the Huskies, hoping she can lead them to glory and cement her legacy as one of the greatest players in UConn history.
