Sports

UConn Star Paige Bueckers Makes Huge Announcement On Senior Night

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Getty Image / Lance King


Before there was Caitlin Clark leading the high school class of 2020, there was Paige Bueckers.

The UConn star burst onto the scene as a true freshman all the way back in the 2020-2021 season. While Caitlin Clark was playing exceptional basketball in Iowa City herself, Paige Bueckers was killing it in Storrs.

The Minneapolis-area native led UConn all the way to the Final Four as a freshman, despite it being one of the least impressive Husky rosters in recent memory. Not only did Paige Bueckers lead them to the Final Four, but she was named National Player of the Year by many of the prestigious outlets.

Simply put, she was an all-around force. Bueckers averaged 20.0 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game with 52/46/87 splits. Yeah, that’s ridiculous.

But, ankle surgery soon after the end of that freshman year slowed her down as a sophomore. Still, she was an All-American and led UConn to the national title game with some truly heroic performances in the NCAA Tournament to will the Huskies there.

After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, Bueckers has once again been one of the nation’s best players. She’s averaging nearly identical numbers to her freshman year, while carrying a UConn team decimated by injuries. They’re currently 22-5, and in the top 15. That’s not up to the standard of Geno Auriemma’s program, but that’s no fault of Bueckers.

With her COVID year, as well as a medical redshirt, she still has two years of eligibility if she wants them. But, she also could go pro and enter the WNBA Draft, where she would be an incredibly high pick.

She seems to have made up her mind, and will be staying at UConn for next year.

I assume UConn will load up and make a run at a national title next year, possibly to send Geno Auriemma off as a champion. Who knows, maybe Paige Bueckers could lead UConn on a miracle run and win it all this year. But, it truly does not seem as if UConn is good enough this year.

Iowa’ Caitlin Clark has a similar choice to make. She has one year of eligibility left, and has not decide if she wanted to use it.