Paige Bueckers Writes a Storybook Ending with National Title
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Paige Bueckers flipped in a miraculous shot for a three-point play, pushing UConn’s lead to 28 with 7:45 left. The crowd erupted as teammates lifted her in celebration. She added another three-point play, giving her 17 points and extending the lead to 29.
Smiles spread across UConn players as fans roared, “Let’s go, Huskies!” UConn defeated defending champion South Carolina 82–59. It was revenge. It was redemption for the 2022 loss in her sophomore year, the only title-game defeat in program history.
Jubilation filled the arena. UConn had waited nine years to see championship confetti again since beating Syracuse 82–51 in 2016. Emotions poured out as Bueckers hugged Geno Auriemma.
This was the moment she had chased since arriving as the top recruit in 2020. Her class changed women’s basketball and included stars like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, and Angel Reese.
The highs included winning National Player of the Year as a freshman and being labeled college basketball’s best player. However, adversity soon followed. Despite losing the national championship to South Carolina, her future remained promising.
Overcoming Adversity
Nothing seemed to stop Bueckers. Yet, the next few seasons showed how fragile life can be. She lost two seasons to major injuries. She tore her meniscus as a sophomore, costing her 19 games.
Later, she tore her ACL, ending her 2022–23 season. Through it all, she showed remarkable mental fortitude and patience. Early mornings and long nights defined her recovery. That rehab process completely shifted her perspective.
During rehab, she added Pilates to her routine. She also trained with strength coach Chris Smith and athletic trainer Danielle Miller. At the same time, Bueckers leaned more on her faith, believing these obstacles were part of God’s plan for her journey.
Return to Dominance
Finally, she returned healthy in 2023–24 for the first time since arriving at UConn. She came back better than ever. She won her second Big East Player of the Year award and earned another All-American nod.
Despite this, she watched teammates fall to injuries throughout the season. That stretch tested both her leadership and her resilience.
“I was so worried about all that could go wrong,” Bueckers said, “that you can’t even do anything right,” which all came to a head in the national semifinal when the Huskies fell to Iowa by two.
The tension reached its peak when the Huskies lost to Clark and the Hawkeyes in the Final Four in 2023-24, her first healthy season since her arrival. This added fuel to the fire. Before the season, I questioned Bueckers about the significance of capitalizing on her illustrious career with a national title—the culmination of a polarizing collegiate career filled with a range of emotions.
“I don’t even think I could put into words what it would mean… But it would mean everything. Obviously, everything that I’ve been through, me coming back. A lot of my teammates coming back from injury. All the adversity, all the hardships. It would definitely mean everything to cap it off with what we came here for.”
One of those teammates who dealt with their fair share of injuries was Azzi Fudd, who missed last season with a torn ACL and medial meniscus tear. She came back with something to prove, scoring 24, tied for a game-high with star freshman Sarah Strong, who finished with a 24-point double-double as the Huskies’ Big Three combined for 65 of the 82 points.
Bueckers Legacy Cemented
As the confetti came down, she celebrated with her teammates, taking in every moment—from those nights of rehabbing with the Connecticut strength and conditioning staff to the countless hours in the gym to ultimately hoist the national title crown. It was the perfect coronation and blend that sums up Buecker’s career.
She now joins a legendary list of UConn Women’s players who have won the title, including Dianna Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier. Bueckers has indelibly impacted UConn; we’ve seen her at her highest and lowest, finishing as the fastest UConn player to 2,000 career points in 122 career games.
Bueckers helped deliver the Huskies and Auriemma their 12th national championship in program history—the most in NCAA history. It’s a storybook ending for Bueckers and Auriemma. It’s a swan song for one of UConn’s most resilient, persevering heroes.
It was everything she could have dreamed of and more.