Latest news with #UConn-USC
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Geno Auriemma Sends Strong Message on JuJu Watkins Before UConn-USC
Head coach Geno Auriemma and his No. 2 UConn Huskies are preparing for a heavyweight showdown with No. 1 USC in the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA women's basketball tournament on Monday night. The battle for a spot in the Final Four serves as a rematch of UConn's 80-73 win over USC in last year's Elite Eight and a thrilling 72-70 Trojans win back in December of this season. Advertisement Unfortunately for USC and all women's basketball fans, part three will not feature JuJu Watkins versus Paige Bueckers. Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL injury in USC's second-round win over No. 9 Mississippi State. UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma (left) and USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (right).David Butler II, Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images As a longtime steward of the game, Auriemma has seen far too many players suffer the same fate as Watkins. Look no further than Bueckers, who missed the entire 2022-2023 season with an ACL injury in the middle of her historic five-year career in Storrs. Based on what he has seen before, the rival coach had conviction about how Watkins will respond when asked about the absent star before the UConn-USC game. Advertisement "I don't know of anyone that I've coached that suffered an injury like this — that was the quality of player we're talking about — that didn't come back better," Auriemma said. Any list of the best players in women's basketball history is littered with players who overcame the devastating but all-too-common injury in women's sports, including WNBA icons like Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes. There are plenty of past and present Huskies with the injury that Auriemma saw first hand, too. Beyond Bueckers, UConn legend Sue Bird and current guard Azzi Fudd are a couple notable names in the same category. Advertisement "That's what makes them who they are," he explained. "For them, it's another challenge, another game to win, another opponent they have to beat. If you're a competitor like Paige or like JuJu, they come back better." It's certainly true for Bueckers, who dropped a career-high 40 points in the Sweet 16 to set up the showdown with the Trojans. Watkins will not share the floor with Bueckers on Monday, but the sophomore has plenty of time to make more March Madness memories in the future if she can come back as strong as Auriemma expects. Related: NCAA Facing Backlash for Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins Decision Related: Stephen A. Smith Sends Clear Message To Paige Bueckers After JuJu Watkins Injury
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers Makes UConn History in Elite Eight Win Over USC
No. 2 seed UConn is moving on to the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA women's basketball tournament after a 78-64 win over No. 1 USC in the Elite Eight on Monday. The Huskies were powered by fifth-year guard Paige Bueckers, who put up a game-high 31 points, three rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks in the win over a Trojans team playing without injured star JuJu Watkins. Advertisement Bueckers has been money this year in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 29 points across four games. Her 105 points in the last three games is the most ever by a UConn player in a three-game stretch. She has been putting up buckets in a Huskies jersey since her National Player of the Year campaign as a freshman, and her continued success culminated in a major milestone against USC. UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the second half of an NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Snook-Imagn Images In the fourth quarter, Bueckers passed former UConn player and current WNBA star Napheesa Collier for third place in the all-time UConn scoring list. Collier finished her college career with 2,401 points. Bueckers moves onto the Final Four with 2,406 to her name. Bueckers is expected to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft despite having one season of NCAA eligibility remaining. If she stayed, she might have a chance to catch Breanna Stewart in second place (2,676 points) and quite possibly, the record-holder Maya Moore (3,036 points). Advertisement Related: Paige Bueckers' Draft Decision Draws Immediate Reaction From WNBA Star Related: Geno Auriemma Sends Strong Message on JuJu Watkins Before UConn-USC
