Tampa, Florida – with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter, while huddled with his teammates while stopping the game, Paige Bueckers heard her name. He was a newcomer to UConn Allie Ziebell and she handed her a towel to her teammate.
It was no towel of surrender. But one of the successes. A towel of rest, representing peace resulting from well -done work. Bueckers grabbed it and went to the bench Huskies. Her face softened, her disposition relaxed. She saw the embrace of finishing to wait.
“So many emotions,” Bueckers said. “The gratitude was the main thing – out of the way, ascension and falls, everything that got to this point.”
Geno Auriemma, her coach, her Sensei, her advocate, often thorn in her side, now and forever bark in conscience, became the heat at the end of the epic journey. His arms around her in a triumphant embrace gave Buecker permission to stop and feel the reward for her work.
For the moment, even for the moment, she could have laid a plow. Her husky was, but moments from the shower confetti after Sunday 82-59 Trounging in South Carolina. She could turn off the fire that was burning. She could have a guard, her character and glory requires erection. She could give up any doubt and worries set in her psyche.
Because she did it. In his last game with Uconn – in the presence of Huskies icons such as Maya Moore and Diana Tauras, Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart at the stalls – Bueckers became a national champion.
And before the sold -out crowd in the Amalie Arena than a million other watching elsewhere, she all let it go. She was firmly pressed by Auriemma and released all the energy that the super -star must carry when her tears fell on the shoulder of her coach.
While she sobbed, Auriemma told her guardian of the point that she loved her.
“There are times when we are very, very serious together,” he explained. “And there have been many serious interviews over the past five years over the past five years. Some interviews are easy and fun and mean nothing. But today it was the first, I think in five years, I have come out and came out here.
And on this moving display, when the basketball world disappeared from its shared affection, one of the largest Auriemma ever trained.
“And I told him,” Bueckers said, “I hated him.”
Bueckers deserved this moment. She earned this moment. But the truth is that she didn’t need this moment.
Paige Bueckers shared a long hug with Geno auriemma when she checked out of her last basketball game at college 🫂 pic.twitter.com/jz9jm630hu
– Athletic (@Theathletic) April 6, 2025
In another universe where Gamecocks played the game of his lives and upset Uconn, the reality of her domination remains unchanged. The name undoubtedly adds to her legend. But Bueckers was already legendary.
Because, winners are not defined by winning, but willing to produce them. And the character inevitably reveals.
The biggest victory of Bueckers, which is most important for its undeniable heritage, is how it can handle the weight of its crown. What radiates from the pedestal on which it is set. Her size is kind. He knows how to shine while it diverts and how to combine the character and competitiveness.
It is not possible to forget the era in which it is located. The burden of UConn was carrying the Standard when its Dominion was never attacked. She led Huskies to four finals four, sandwiched around ACL injuries that cost her season, at a time of widespread stars and impressive programs.
The same reason why Bueckers did not need the National Championship is exactly why it has it now. Because the package of her game is elite. He is a versatile player who affects the defensive end. It competes with fury, which is contrary to its pleasantness. It can dominate the game with your skill or control it with its intangible.
“Phenomenal player. Definitely,” said Bree Hall, premiere defender of South Carolina, who during his four seasons joined with the best in the game.
“Hats on her. It’s a great, great player. He gets to his shots. He knows how to open up. … she definitely did a thing today. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to compete against her in W (NBA) – or maybe be in the same team.”
The original idea of the word legend was a reference to things to be read. In the 14th century, with literacy, the skills of the chosen several, there must have been something nice to be written, and it was written to read. When something happened when something was important, it was somehow recorded so that it could be passed. So the others could read and know.
The Bueckers journey is written. Phenom of Secondary School of St. Louis Park, minn. Who returned from the knee injury to lead Uconn to the title game like Sophomore – just to miss the next season with ACL tears. Which returned with revenge and on average 21.9 points in its junior season, which ended with a classic duel against Caitlin Clark. Who led a young team without an elite player as a Co-Star on the title run, which was surprisingly dominant in the view.
After he lost to Tennessee on 6 February, UConn ended 16 direct wins with an average margin of 32.1 points. The closest team came to the 14-point loss of USC Huskies in Eight.
“It was a story of durability, gratitude, adversity, overcoming adversity,” Bueckers said. “We just respond to life challenges and try to support them to make me a better person, a better player and continue to grow in my leadership and be a great teammate and just stayed who I am. … I wouldn’t have it for the world.
The story of Uconn, the narration of the women’s basketball origin, cannot be told without Bueckers. And it was clearly worthy to say that. It is great from one of the big sports programs of history. He is a pillar in the revolution of female basketball. It’s a bale of ballerina.
None of this can even be questioned because Bueckers follow the final price. However, this was a confirmation and not verification. Her UConn Run will culminate in the championship is the sputtering bottles to celebrate her career.
Paige Bueckers and coach Geno Auriemma shared a tear hug on the side line after the senior checked from the game. (Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos through Getty Images)
She said she wanted it clearly. Judging by the way she played, she wanted it wrong.
Bueckers led the obsessed group Huskies. Uconn suffocated in the possibilities of Limited Affice Offense Gamecocks and carved the aggressive defense of the champion advocate. When Huskies saw that South Carolina had escaped confidence and exhausted the answers, they moved gears and left Dawn Staley’s women in a cloud of dark blue turbidity.
It was not one of the explosive performances for which Bueckers became known. But in the snippe of this ring, she left more fingerprints than a lazy thief. She was a symphonic conductor when she described her best. On Sunday she determined a specific tone.
In the last seconds of the first quarter, Freshman Forward Gamecocks Joyce Edwards got a wide open view and Dish from Te-Hin Paopao, but Bueckers blocked it from behind. It was a kind of extremely effort that Uconn would make all night to leave South Carolina the feeling that he was playing five to eight. Huskies went to the subsequent holding of Huskies and ended the runners from the glass.
Uconn went to the second quarter of five. Huskies were unharmed through nervousness and what turned out to be the best shot in South Carolina.
Later in the third quarter, her will won again. With 1:45 on the left and South Carolina on the ropes, Bueckers entered the trees and grabbed an offensive reflection. She pulled the foul on the putback and rolled off. What Gamecocks thought would stop to turn into two free throws. Bueckers was forcibly applauding to break the noise.
For the following defensive property, Bueckers Outhus followed South Carolina. She watched Missed Jumper Raven Johnson and defeated Sania Feagin on the ball. At this point, Gamecocks were 18 and their best attack was an offensive reflection. So Bueckers wouldn’t let them have them.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, desperate Gamecocks increased pressure, Bueckers turned from Sarah Strong dribling. Azzi Fudd tried to do the same seconds earlier, but was reflected in aggression. But Bueckers’ witness turned out to make sure the Hall was caught on the screen. Then Bueckers glued the jumper above the outstretched hand Chloe Kitts.
Two property later, after stopping, pushed the ball in the crossing. She had a way to the basket, but she meant another goal. Fudd was a hot Sunday. She ended up with 24 points and won the most important player. Bueckers turned to the fuddu on the right wing. Handoff dribble got a fudd open look. She missed 3, but it was a sign that Bueckers went to Jugular.
She found it. Connecticut got an offensive jump and Bueckers opened on the back of the rear house. Strong hit her step. Milaysia Fulwiley, Athletic Guard in South Carolina, rose from the weakness for the block. But in this process she hit Bueckers’ arm. The whistle was blowing, the layout dropped, the crowd broke out, and the Bueckers would put on his back, scream and bend. Her free throw was built by Uconn about 29, the remaining 7:45.
10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/4QSRCCGZMM
– UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnwbb) April 6, 2025
Auriemma said the Bueckers could be fascinating and angry. When it dominates when it has all elements of the team, scheme, chain games, it is a poetry for a coach. When she dares away from the plan, the freedom provided by her talent and work ethics can be a crazy coach.
“It happened several times today. And it’s really angry,” he said. “He will want to dictate and my relationship with her, I know what he will do, and it is not always what I want to do. But in the end I know she always does what he thinks he has to do for us to win.”
That’s why it’s a legend. Because he has the courage to accept the challenge, take over every enemy, any obstacle, the pressure of the UConn, even her iconic coach. It is produced in a way that only legendary characters can. She built numbers. Choreographed wins. She orchestrated moments. She added chills.
And when it was all over, she gave everything she had for five years to her beloved UConn, Bueckers left the final final memory. She gave her blood. She gave her sweat.
Sunday, she finally gave her tears.
(Upper Photo: C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos through Getty Images)
