UConn’s Paige Bueckers looks to cap off legendary career with national title

TAMPA, Fla. — UConn star Paige Bueckers is trying to stick to her process.

She’s taking it one step at a time, possession by possession.

She wants to embrace every last second of her college career, from playing pingpong with her teammates and chatting in the locker room to battling on the court.

But the reality of what’s on the horizon is hard to ignore.

Bueckers has only 40 minutes left of playing in Connecticut threads.

In less than two weeks, she’s expected to hear her name called as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Sunday’s national championship game against South Carolina is her last chance to cut down the nets.

But Bueckers finds solace in knowing that she’s helped the Huskies put themselves in position to even play in the last game of the season.

“Everything in life has kind of taught me not to take things for granted,” Bueckers said Saturday. “Being in the national championship game, it’s extremely hard to get to and extremely rewarding to be a part of.”

Bueckers isn’t at all worried about her lasting legacy.

The three-time All-American and 2021 national player of the year has already established herself as one of UConn’s all-time greatest players.

The debate on whether winning a title further legitimizes her career is not something that she cares to partake in.

But there’s no denying that Bueckers, as a competitor, wants this win.

And of course, coach Geno Auriemma wants it for his star senior, too.

“Paige doesn’t need anything to change her life to make her life better. She’s got a life that most people would dream about,” Auriemma said. “But for someone who’s invested so much into the University of Connecticut, the community, the team, her teammates, and loves the game so much, she deserves to go out as a national champion. But so do a bunch of kids at South Carolina that have done the exact same thing.

“And that’s the beauty of it. Only one of those is going to get to be able to do that.”