After a demanding and accomplished five-year career at UConn, Paige Bueckers is now navigating her rookie season in the WNBA after being selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings.
She wrapped up her college journey in spectacular fashion on February 16, leading the Huskies to a dominant 87-58 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks to capture her first NCAA championship. The victory marked UConn’s 12th national title under head coach Geno Auriemma, solidifying their status as the most decorated program in college basketball history.
Auriemma’s program, built with precision and consistency, saw Bueckers emerge as a cornerstone—helping preserve the Huskies’ tradition of excellence through both triumphs and setbacks. Despite suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined her for the latter half of 2022 and all of 2023, Bueckers returned strong, playing in 39 and 38 games in her final two seasons and ultimately earning a championship ring before moving on to the pros.
On Friday, UConn celebrated a special moment months after that title run, revealing that Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers will appear on the cover of the Summer 2025 edition of UConn Magazine. The featured image shows the two embracing during the closing moments of the national championship win.
Bueckers has candidly reflected on her often intense dynamic with Auriemma, describing it as a complex mix of tough love and deep respect. From the day he recruited her, Auriemma saw her leadership potential and continuously pushed her to reach it. The end result was a storybook ending to their final season together.
“He told me he loved me, and I told him I hated him,” Bueckers joked after the title game. “No, I love that man more than I can ever say. There are times when I don’t—but it’s only because he’s pushing me to be better in ways I didn’t think possible. He challenges us constantly, but he always believes in us. He always has our back. The bond we share… I don’t even have the words.”
