Last season, Paige Bueckers had one of the best years of her college career with Connecticut, but her name was overshadowed by the historic campaign of Caitlin Clark in Iowa. However, in the 2024-2025 season, the “Huskies” player redeemed herself by winning her first NCAA title.
Connecticut beat South Carolina 82-59 in the final held in Tampa Bay, so with 1:32 left to play, legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma took Bueckers out to receive an ovation and they shared an emotional hug in the star player’s last game with the Huskies.
In a few more days, almost with total certainty, Paige Bueckers will be selected with the first pick in the WNBA Draft.
UConn regains dominance in women’s college basketball
Connecticut is the most successful program in women’s college basketball with 12 titles, all under the leadership of the Italian Auriemma, who took over in 1985 and managed to win the first championship ten years later.
However, the “Huskies” had not won since 2016, which explains part of Auriemma’s excitement, as he was seen crying at various moments, one of them when he hugged Paige Bueckers in the final seconds of the game.
“All (the titles) have been rewarding, don’t get me wrong,” Auriemma said. “But this one, for the way it happened and everything that was involved, it’s been a long time since I felt so excited to see a player walk off the court.”
Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Spanish rookie Sarah Strong, the fantastic trio from UConn, led the way to dethrone the defending champions South Carolina in the final of the women’s “March Madness”.
Fudd, who was named MVP of the Final Four, scored 24 points. Strong added 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Bueckers contributed 17 points for Connecticut.
“Well, it’s amazing to have three players, three people like that on the same team,” said Auriemma, 71, who became the oldest coach in high-level college basketball to win a championship. “And Sarah, you would think she’s about to graduate by the way she plays, right? The three of them complement each other very well. They all have unique skills.”
Who is Paige Bueckers?
Bueckers, 23 years old, plays as a shooting guard and is the top favorite for the Dallas Wings to select her with the first pick in the WNBA Draft, which will take place on April 14th.
Winning a title was the only thing missing in an incredible career with UConn that was hindered by injuries. She was the first freshman to win the AP Player of the Year award before missing a big part of her second season due to a tibial plateau fracture and a torn meniscus. Then she tore her anterior cruciate ligament before the following season.
“It has been a story of resilience, gratitude, of overcoming adversity and facing life’s challenges,” said Bueckers. “I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”