In an emotional scene at Gampel Pavilion, UConn star Paige Bueckers returned to the court holding a microphone after what was her final home game. A year ago, she had stood in a similar spot, announcing her decision to return to play for the Huskies for one last season. This time, she took the opportunity to thank the loyal fans who have supported her over her five seasons at the university.
The Huskies had much to celebrate, as Bueckers equaled her career-high with 34 points, leading UConn to a commanding 91-57 victory over South Dakota State. This victory propelled the team into their 31st consecutive Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, Bueckers shared, “It means everything. We started playing here with cardboard cutouts as the fans, so just to have gone through that and then experienced the other side of it, which was amazing. The atmosphere was amazing. You can’t even hear timeouts, can’t even hear fouls, can’t even hear when the whistle blows just because of how loud they are and how much support they show.” She added, “It’s been a dream to play here, a dream to wear this uniform, a dream to play in this environment. As much more times you want this to continue to happen, you just take every single chance you have and never take it for granted.”
UConn had a sluggish start against South Dakota State, an experienced team that surprised No. 7 seed Oklahoma State in the first round to face UConn. However, Bueckers scored UConn’s last 10 points of the first quarter, showcasing her skill and determination.
UConn guard Azzi Fudd expressed admiration for Bueckers’ performance, stating, “It is incredible to watch. You almost feel sorry for the other team when Paige is locked in. There is nothing you can do to stop her. No matter what shot she takes, the ball is going to go in. It was fun to watch and see what she does.”
Bueckers’ college career has been met with challenges, including a season missed due to injury and limited playtime in another. Now, she has one final opportunity to clinch a national championship before likely heading to the WNBA as the No. 1 overall draft pick.
UConn Coach Geno Auriemma reflected on the difficulty of securing a championship, saying, “When you’re in high school, it seems so easy, you know? I go to UConn and win a national championship. The reality hits and you realize it’s incredibly difficult to do that.” He continued, “She’s put herself in that position that if she leaves here without winning one, she’s going to feel less than full. I don’t feel that way and as I said, she’s doing things that no one’s ever done before. She’s had to do a lot for us the entire time she’s been here and she’s getting rewarded.”
Looking ahead, Bueckers and her teammates prepare to face Oklahoma in the Sweet 16, set to take place in Spokane, Washington. While thinking about the memories she’s made at UConn, Bueckers admitted, “I’m sure we’ll have more time to reflect on it when the season is over,” emphasizing that her team is focused on the present. She concluded, “Right now we’re super focused on the present but obviously just extremely grateful and you can’t really put into words how much this place has meant to me. I’m forever indebted and it’s become my second home.”