UConn Makes Big Paige Bueckers, Geno Auriemma Announcement on Friday
UConn Makes Big Paige Bueckers, Geno Auriemma Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After a long, grueling, and successful five-year stretch at UConn, Paige Bueckers is now in the midst of her rookie season in the WNBA, having been selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings.
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She capped off her collegiate career on February 16 with a dominant 87-58 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks, securing her first national championship at the college level.
This victory also marked UConn's 12th national title under head coach Geno Auriemma, making the Huskies the most successful college basketball program in history in terms of national championships.
The Huskies' program has been meticulously built by Auriemma, with Bueckers playing a pivotal role in maintaining that legacy—despite the highs and lows she faced during her time in Storrs, Connecticut.
Bueckers missed the entire latter half of the 2022 season and all of the 2023 season due to a major knee injury. Still, she appeared in 39 and 38 games during her final two years and managed to earn a championship ring before moving on to the WNBA.
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On Friday, months after concluding her collegiate career, UConn announced exciting news: Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers will grace the cover of the latest UConn Magazine Summer 2025 edition. The cover photo captures the two embracing during the final moments of the Huskies' national title victory.
Bueckers has been open about the love-hate nature of her relationship with Auriemma, but emphasized that it was always rooted in positivity and mutual respect.
From the moment he recruited her to play in Storrs, Auriemma recognized her potential and pushed her to become a leader and strive for greatness. Together, they couldn't have ended the 2024-25 season on a better note.
Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma hugs guard Paige Bueckers (5) during national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"He told me he loved me, and I told him I hated him," Bueckers said after the game. "No, I love that man more than words can describe. There are a lot of times when I don't.
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"But it's because he's challenging me and making us all better in ways we never even knew we could. And he always has our back. Sometimes, it feels he's on you and he has nothing but bad things to say.
"But he always has belief. He always has your back. Just the relationship that we have, I can't even put into words."
Related: Geno Auriemma Makes Clear Announcement on Retirement After 12th National Title
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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