UConn star Paige Bueckers shines in farewell home game as Huskies vie for national championship

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The second-seeded UConn Huskies entered this year's women's NCAA Tournament with high expectations. 

Huskies guard Paige Bueckers' 34 points led the team to Monday's victory over South Dakota State in the second round in Storrs. The 91-57 win punched UConn's ticket to the Sweet 16, where the Huskies will meet No. 3 Oklahoma.

The game also marked the last time Bueckers would take the court at the Gampel Pavilion in a UConn uniform.

Bueckers addressed the Huskies faithful moments after Monday's game. 

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UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) talks to the crowd after defeating the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., March 24, 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)

"It means everything," Bueckers said as she stood at center court holding a microphone. "We started playing here with cardboard cutouts as the fans, so just to have gone through that and then experienced the other side of it, which was amazing. The atmosphere was amazing. You can’t even hear timeouts, can’t even hear fouls, can’t even hear when the whistle blows just because of how loud they are and how much support they show.

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"It’s been a dream to play here, a dream to wear this uniform, a dream to play in this environment. As much more times you want this to continue to happen, you just take every single chance you have and never take it for granted."

UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers exits the floor after defeating the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., March 24, 2025.