Paige Bueckers Aims for National Title After Final Gampel Game

Post by: Pratik Kumar

Photo : AP

Last year, she stood in the same place and told fans she would return for one more season. This time, she wanted to thank them for their love and support after playing her last game at Gampel Pavilion.

The fans had a big reason to cheer. Bueckers played one of her best games, scoring 34 points, helping UConn win 91-57 against South Dakota State. With this win, UConn reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament for the 31st time in a row.

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After the game, Bueckers spoke about how much UConn means to her.

“This means everything to me,” she said. “When I first played here, we had no fans because of COVID. There were only cardboard cutouts in the seats. Now, to play in front of such a loud and amazing crowd—it feels unreal. The fans are so loud that we can’t even hear the whistle or the timeouts. Their love and support mean so much.”

She continued, “Playing here has been my dream. Wearing this jersey has been my dream. I wish this could last forever, but I know I have to enjoy every moment.”

UConn started slow against a strong South Dakota State team. They had won a surprise victory against Oklahoma State in the first round. But Bueckers stepped up. She scored UConn’s last 10 points in the first quarter and kept going from there.

Her teammate Azzi Fudd praised her game.

“It’s amazing to watch,” Fudd said. “You feel bad for the other team when Paige is in the zone. No matter what shot she takes, it goes in. There’s no way to stop her. Watching her play like this was so much fun.”

Bueckers has had a tough time in college. Injuries made her miss an entire season, and in another, she played only 17 games. Now, she has one last chance to win a national championship before she moves to the WNBA. She is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Her coach, Geno Auriemma, knows how much winning a championship would mean to her.

“When you are in high school, you think, ‘I’ll go to UConn and win a national championship,’” Auriemma said. “But then you realize how hard it is. I don’t want any player to feel like they are missing something if they don’t win. But for Paige, it’s different. She has given everything to this team, and I know she will feel something is missing if she doesn’t win that title.”

He added, “She has done things no one else has. She has carried this team so many times. Everything people say about her is true.”

Next, Bueckers and the Huskies will play against Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 on Saturday in Spokane, Washington.

Even though her time at UConn is ending, Bueckers is not ready to think about that yet.

“I will have time to think about everything when the season is over,” she said. “Right now, we are focusing on winning. But I feel so thankful. It is hard to put into words how much this place means to me. UConn has become my second home, and I will always be grateful.”

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