UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers announced Friday night that she's returning for the 2024-25 season, news that will send shockwaves through the Huskies and the WNBA, where she was projected to be a 2024 lottery pick.
Bueckers made the announcement in front of a packed crowd at Gampel Pavilion during a senior night ceremony following the Huskies' 85-44 victory over Georgetown.
«I know everybody wants me to address the elephant in the room,» Bueckers said. «Unfortunately this will not be my last senior night here at UConn.»
Bueckers, a redshirt junior, was the projected No. 3 pick in ESPN's latest WNBA mock draft.
Bueckers had previously hinted at the possibility of returning to UConn but saved the official announcement for Friday, ending any speculation about her future before the No. 15 Huskies (22-5) gear up for the NCAA tournament.
«Just the family camaraderie here, just loving it here, loving my teammates, loving my coaches, me not having the four years that I planned on, not being able to play as much,» Bueckers said when asked by SNY about her decision. «I just feel like I'm not done yet here. I feel like God is still writing my story here. I'm just blessed to be a part of this program, and I never want it to end.»
Bueckers led UConn to the Final Four as a freshman, becoming the first freshman to win the Wooden, Naismith, Associated Press and USBWA player of the year awards, before leading the Huskies to the national title game as a sophomore.
But her past three years at UConn have been spoiled by what-ifs due to injuries, either her own or her teammates'. Following her stellar freshman season, Bueckers was limited to 17 games by a knee injury and then tore an ACL in August 2022, sidelining her for the
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