While former UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers was not in attendance at the 2025 ESPYs on Wednesday night, she still made an impact. The Icon Award was given to retired American soccer player Alex Morgan and former WNBA star Diana Taurasi. After they received the award, a video tribute was posted on the big screen at the event. In the video, Paige Bueckers joked about Taurasi, who is a legend at UConn from her college days, allowing her to be an “a**hole.”
“Dee is unapologetically herself,” Bueckers said. “Because of you, I can be an a**hole and be proud of it.”
Former UConn women’s basketball star Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan are your 2025 ESPY Icon Award recipients
Paige Bueckers via video message: “Dee is unapologetically herself …. Dee, because of you, I can be an asshole and be proud of it.”
— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) July 17, 2025
Diana Taurasi was a star in the WNBA from 2004 to 2024, playing her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury. She won three WNBA championships and one MVP award in 2009. She is viewed as one of the greatest players of her generation.
Diana Taurasi Encourages Paige Bueckers and the Next Generation to “Keep Going”
During her acceptance speech, Diana Taurasi was open about her hopes that the next generation would build on what she accomplished. She is not a former athlete who hopes that the next generation does not surpass her accomplishments. She appears to be actively rooting for Paige Bueckers and the next wave of WNBA stars.
“To the next generation, keep going,” Taurasi said. “Don’t wait for someone to hand you anything, outwork them. Be loyal. Bring that damn fire every day. We’re proof you can do it.”
Paige Bueckers is one of the youngest and brightest stars in women’s college basketball. She spent four years at UConn before entering the WNBA draft, winning a national championship this past season. She was then selected by the Dallas Wings with the first pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.
Bueckers has had a strong start to her rookie season, establishing herself as a star in the league. Through 18 games, she is averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She already looks like one of the best players in the league.
Her superstardom appears to be on the level of other big WNBA stars. In a matchup between Bueckers’ Wings and Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever on Sunday, the game drew 2.1 million average viewers.
This past Sunday, ABC aired another of its most-watched #WNBA games EVER with the @IndianaFever‘s win over the @DallasWings 👏
🏀 2.1M avg. viewers (2.5M peak)
🏀 WNBA on ESPN up 7% from last season pic.twitter.com/GvkGHzStTt— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) July 15, 2025
This made it the fourth-most watched WNBA game of all time.
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!
