Paige Bueckers cemented her status as a UConn Huskies legend when she led the team to its 12th national championship in April of this year. On Monday’s episode of “The Hoops Cap” podcast, college basketball insider Chelsea Sherrod discussed the changes Bueckers made to her game to help UConn return to the mountaintop.
Speaking to host Mark Zanetto, Sherrod revealed that the first year she covered UConn as a sideline reporter was during Bueckers’ comeback season from an ACL injury. She noted the difficulties Bueckers faced during her return to the basketball court.
“She was trying to be more aggressive. Like that first year, I had a lot of conversations with Geno about Paige taking over games and what’s it going to take for her to be more aggressive, less passive, and things like that,” Sherrod said (3:55). These are things that she should be doing. She wasn’t necessarily doing them, but then we’re like, ‘Oh well, she’s still doing great.'”
Bueckers still put up impressive numbers in the 2023-24 NCAA season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 boards, 3.8 dimes, 2.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks through 39 games. However, Sherrod noticed a huge change in her style of play during her final year at UConn.
“I think towards the end of the season, we saw her go off for 40 in the NCAA Tournament. That was Paige at her peak. Now, she is three seasons removed from that ACL. She’s even better. So I think she’s settled in. Like she knows herself. She knows where her spots are,” Sherrod concluded.
Paige Bueckers stepped up her performance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, averaging 24.8 points. She dropped at least 30 points thrice in her final Big Dance, including a 40-point performance against Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 in this year’s March Madness.
She finished her college basketball career with a victory, scoring 17 points in the title game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Paige Bueckers Dazzles in her WNBA Rookie Season
Paige Bueckers’ aggressive mindset has carried over to the WNBA. She has been exceptional in her first season with the Dallas Wings, averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds through 14 games.
Unfortunately for Bueckers and the Wings, the results haven’t gone their way in the 2025 WNBA season. They are tied for 10th place in the standings after losing 13 of their first 19 games.
KEEP READING: ‘I Told Him I Hated Him’: When Paige Bueckers Opened Up About Feelings For UConn HC Geno Auriemma
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
