Paige Buckers goes out an NCAA champion because of UConn team she helped build

USA Today

06-04-2025

Paige Buckers goes out an NCAA champion because of UConn team she helped build | Opinion
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Women's March Madness: UConn wins twelvth title, defeats South Carolina
UConn defeats South Carolina, Huskies bring home another title
TAMPA, Florida — What a perfect way for Paige Bueckers to end her college career.
As a national champion, yes, thanks to a 82-59 rout of defending champion South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
Even more so, though, because this was a title won on the dominance of UConn's entire team, rather than Bueckers' individual brilliance. After a career of carrying UConn, sometimes to her own detriment, it was the rest of the Huskies who had Bueckers' back in her final game with UConn on her front.
Bueckers had one field goal over the second and third quarters, and seven of her 17 points were on free throws. But it didn't matter because Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong had themselves a day, with 24 points apiece.
Fudd, who barely played in the 2022 title game because she was sick, set the tone with 13 of her 24 points in the first half. Strong let the entire country know that UConn, and the women's game overall, is going to be just fine in the post Caitlin Clark and Bueckers eras. The freshman had another double-double with 15 rebounds, and also had a team-high five assists, three blocks and two steals.
Bueckers hasn't just been one of the best individual players in UConn's storied history, she is one of its most beloved. She can pop off at any moment (remember the 40 points she dropped on Oklahoma in the Sweet 16?) but is more apt to look for ways to help her teammates shine.
She has used her platform to spotlight Black women who paved the way for her opportunities. And when freshman Jana El Alfy fasted during Ramadan, Bueckers woke up before dawn to make her breakfast.
She is a real one, and the affection her teammates have for her is obvious.
When Bueckers scored on a layup with 7:45 to play, getting knocked to the ground in the process and drawing a foul, her teammates dogpiled on top of her. When she left the game for good with 1:32 to play, she shared a long hug with coach Geno Auriemma and every one of her teammates.
'As a great teammate, a great leader,' Bueckers said Saturday when asked how she'd like to be remembered. "I think those are the two most important things to me. Just being somebody that people love to play with, make their teammates better.'
This is UConn's record 12th national title, but its first since 2016. That's an unheard of drought at UConn, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Bueckers took the Huskies to the Final Four every year she played – she missed her junior year with a torn ACL – and to the title game in 2022, in her hometown.
But no one player can win a title on her own, even Bueckers. The Huskies didn't have enough experience her freshman year, and were done in by injuries and Fudd's illness in 2022. Last year, it's a wonder UConn even made it to the Final Four, held together by bubble gum and sticky tape.
This year, however, UConn truly had a team. They had Bueckers. And Fudd. And Strong. And Kaitlyn Chen. And El Alfy. And, and, and, and.
Everywhere you looked Sunday, someone was making a play for UConn. South Carolina might have limited Bueckers' offensively, but they couldn't stop a multi-headed monster that was playing not just to win a title, but to win it for Bueckers.
No need for the Huskies to buy Bueckers a going-away gift. This was the perfect sendoff.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.