UConn basketball icon Breanna Stewart was courtside at Amalie Arena in Tampa on April 6 as her alma mater claimed its 12th national championship, defeating South Carolina 82–59. Her celebratory Instagram post, captioned “12 of them!! #BleedBlue,” quickly went viral—bridging UConn’s storied past with its triumphant present.
The post, which garnered more than 28,000 likes, captured more than just a celebratory moment. It symbolized a return to UConn’s championship lineage. Current Huskies star Paige Bueckers responded, “The Icon,” embodying the emotional weight of ending the program’s nine-year title drought that stretched back to Stewart’s senior season in 2016.
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Stewart’s presence alongside fellow UConn legends Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore wasn’t merely ceremonial—it felt like a passing of the torch.
The four-time NCAA champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player watched as Bueckers scored 17 points, Azzi Fudd added 24, and freshman Sarah Strong posted 24 points and 15 rebounds. The trio dominated South Carolina in championship fashion, echoing the dominance of Stewart’s era.
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“When you lose at UConn, it’s like the world is ending. [We knew] that they were going to get it. It took a little bit longer, but they got here today,” Stewart told ESPN after the game.
Her words reflect confidence in the program’s resurgence and speak volumes about the culture she helped build during her 151–5 college career, where anything short of a championship felt like a failure.
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For Bueckers, the championship represents redemption after battling injuries throughout her collegiate career. Her passionate reply to Stewart’s post highlights the deep connection between UConn generations—players who never shared the court but are linked by the same championship DNA and Coach Geno Auriemma’s demanding standard of excellence.
“This one’s for everyone who came before us,” Bueckers said in the postgame press conference, acknowledging the program’s rich heritage.
The championship marks Auriemma’s 12th title in 40 years at UConn—a milestone celebrated by generations of his players, with Stewart’s Instagram post serving as a digital rallying point for the program’s extended basketball family.
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The title completes a full-circle moment. The drought that began after Stewart’s departure finally ends with Bueckers fulfilling her championship destiny. The symbolism wasn’t lost on Stewart, a three-time WNBA champion, who has maintained close ties to her alma mater while building a decorated professional legacy.
As Stewart prepares for the 2025 season with the New York Liberty—having re-signed with the team on March 29—her celebration of UConn’s victory reinforces the continuity of a basketball legacy. Champions continue to inspire future champions, woven together in an unbroken blue-and-white thread that now stretches across 12 national titles—and counting.
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