Paige Bueckers is returning to UConn for the 2024-25 season.
The Huskies star — who could have been a top WNBA draft pick this spring had she turned pro — announced her intentions after the program’s senior night game on Friday in Storrs, Conn.
“This will not be my last senior night here at UConn,” Bueckers told the crowd after the Huskies demolished Georgetown 85-44.
Teammate Aubrey Griffin also announced she will return next season.
Bueckers was the No. 1 high school recruit in the Class of 2020 and made an immediate impact in college, being named National Player of the Year as a freshman after averaging 20 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in 2020-21.
Injuries limited Bueckers to 17 games as a sophomore before she tore the ACL in her left knee during an offseason pickup game in 2022. After missing the entire season, she received a medical redshirt and was considered a redshirt junior upon her return this season.
Bueckers tallied 21 points and eight assists against Georgetown on Friday to bring her season averages to 20 points and four assists over 27 games.
“Just the family camaraderie here, just loving it here, loving my teammates, loving my coaches,” Bueckers told SNY of her decision. “Me not having the four years that I planned out, not being able to play as much, I just feel like I’m not done yet here. I feel like God is still writing my story here and I’m just blessed to be a part of this program and I never want it to end.”
Griffin is playing her fourth season of college basketball and opted to use the extra year of eligibility granted to all NCAA athletes who played during the COVID-19 pandemic. She suffered an ACL tear in early January and was ruled out for the rest of the season. Griffin has averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds over 110 college games (40 starts).
UConn’s other two seniors, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, were not definitive on whether this was their final season or if they would return for their fifth years of eligibility.
–Field Level Media