Paige Bueckers is finally a champion.
After doing every final of his illustrious race but never reaching the top of the mountain, his final game in UConn ended with a national title.
The Huskies won their 12th title on Sunday with an 82-59 victory over the current Carolina South Carolina Gamecks champion.
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The coach of the Huskies of Connecticut, Geno Auriemma, embraces the guard Paige Bueckers during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the National Championship of the Women’s NCAA Tournament in Amalie Arena. (Images of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
It is the first UCONN title since 2015, ending its longest drought since it won its first title in 1995.
Bueckers was taken from the game with 1:32 to go in the game, and could not hold his emotions while sharing a long hug with chief coach Geno Auriemma.
ESPN asked Auriemma after the game what he told his star player, and kept him simple as he retired the tears.
“I love you,” he said. “That’s all you can say.”
The Connecticut Huskies Guard, Paige Bueckers, reacts during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the National Championship of the Women’s NCAA Tournament in Amalie Arena. (Images of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
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Later, Bueckers was asked what he told his coach.
“I told him that I hate him,” he joked.
It has been a roller coaster for Bueckers, whose career 19.9 points per game is the most in the history of UConn, which has elite students. But she broke her ACL in 2022, forcing her to lose the whole season.
Bueckers was part of the only team in UConn’s history to lose a national title game before suffering the injury, and did not leave the Final Four last year.
But on Sunday, 17 points fell on the way to finally win everything.
The Connecticut Huskies Guard, Paige Bueckers, seeks to shoot the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half of the National Women’s NCAA Tournament Championship at Amalie Arena. (Images of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
Bueckers also has the UConn record for the largest number of points scored in March Madness throughout a race, a brand that occupies third place of all time.
