UConn Sends Emotional Parting Message to Paige Bueckers After Being Drafted No. 1 Overall
Paige Bueckers had a historic career with the Connecticut Huskies basketball program, facing her fair share of highs and lows along the way. From suffering a major knee injury that sidelined her for the entire 2023 season to falling short in the NCAA Tournament on multiple occasions, Bueckers overcame a lot.
However, she capped off her college career in style, leading the Huskies to a national championship victory against South Carolina, 82-59, just last week. Now, more than a week later, Bueckers has been selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in Monday night's WNBA draft.
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While UConn has posted countless messages celebrating Bueckers' move to the WNBA and her dream coming true—many of her teammates and coaches in attendance—the program also sent an emotional parting message to their former star player, who spent five years with the university.
"As she moves on to the next chapter, all we can say is: Thank you, Paige!" UConn posted with an emotional video.
Check it out:
Bueckers will go down as one of the greatest players in UConn Huskies history—and that's saying a lot, considering the program's 12 national championships, the most in college basketball history.
Over the course of her collegiate career, she was a four-time All-NCAA Tournament Team selection, a three-time Big East Player of the Year, won National Player of the Year in 2020, and captured both the Naismith and Wooden Awards during her time at UConn.
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This past season, Bueckers averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting 53.4% from the field, an impressive 41.9% from beyond the arc, and 88.9% from the free-throw line.
Dallas Wings guard Paige BueckersVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Now, she joins forces with former Notre Dame star Arike Ogunbowale, one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the WNBA, who averaged 22.2 points per game last season for the Wings.
Related: Caitlin Clark Names Greatest Basketball Player of All Time Without Hesitation
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