Do you know who’s been the most searched NCAA women’s basketball player this year? It’s Paige Bueckers. That’s right, the UConn star has taken over the spotlight, surpassing even Caitlin Clark. There’s no denying Clark’s impact on the college game and the WNBA’s rising popularity. But even if you’re a die-hard CC fan and love the debate of Paige vs. Caitlin, deep down, we all want Bueckers to have a similar kind of impact. Because, that would be huge for the league. But there’s one thing standing in her way.
National analysts Ricky Cobb and Ronnie T-shirts recently discussed Bueckers on OutKick, and while they both raved about her game, Cobb pointed out the elephant in the room. “She’s good….when she’s in the league next year I will actually watch her play like she has got some sick moves,” T-Shirts said.
And the host agreed but he did highlight a major threat.
“Well, P’s problem has been injuries. She’s got a bad injury background, so the thing for her is going to be staying healthy,” the analyst said during his show And that is true. Bueckers has had a rough stretch in college. She burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning every award you could think of, but then injuries kept her off the court for most of the next two seasons.
Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, she played just 17 combined games. A tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear sustained in the final minuted of Huskies’ Dec. 5, 2021, win against Notre Dame kept her away. She returned to the court on Feb. 25 and was finally getting comfortable. But just when she was preparing to head into the 2022-23 season, in August 2022, she suffered a torn ACL that made her skip the whole 2022-23 season.
Then finally, on Nov. 8, 2023, PB started against Dayton. However, UConn and the entire basketball world had to wait until this season to see Paige Bueckets playing a full season.
And, she did deliver. This season, she’s been averaging 19 points and 4.5 rebounds while leading the Huskies back into the championship conversation in her final year. With the WNBA draft looming, she’s projected to be a top pick. But she must stay healthy to make a impact in her rookie year.
And you know what her turning pro also means? We’re about to witness something truly special. The W is getting stacked with young stars. Caitlin Clark. Now, Paige Bueckers. And in a few year JuJu Watkins As Cobb put it, “You can’t build it on one or two players, and college is really the breeding ground for women’s basketball stars just like it used to be for men’s basketball.”
The league needs new rivalries, fresh talent, and players with star power. And these young women are bringing it all. With all three of them in the league together in the coming years, women’s basketball is heading toward an exciting new era.
The WNBA is already on the rise, and this just feels like the start of something massive. But before we get to that, Bueckers has unfinished business—March Madness.
Can Paige Bueckers & Co. make a deep tournament run?
If there was any doubt about Bueckers’ dominance, she just became the first player to win the Big East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award three times. That’s right—not even the UConn legends before her managed to do that. “It’s very cool and hard to do something that’s never been done at UConn before,” Bueckers said after leading her team to a 70-50 win over Creighton in the conference championship.
Now, she’s locked in on one final goal: an NCAA title. That’s the one thing missing from her college resume. And honestly, this might be her best shot. The Huskies are peaking at the right time. They’ve won every game since Feb. 6, each by at least 19 points. The fifth year senior has been unstoppable, and she’s got standout freshman Sarah Strong supporting her big way.
Dec 17, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; (lL to R) UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21), guard Ashlynn Shade (12), guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard Kaitlyn Chen (20) react after a three point basket against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Huskies are healthy—something that’s been rare during Bueckers’ tenure. If everything falls into place, this UConn team could go all the way. Last year, they made it to the Final Four but fell short against Caitlin Clark and Iowa. Bueckers wouldn’t want to repeat the same. So, can they finally get it done? For Bueckers, that would be the perfect way to end her college career.
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