The wait was finally over for Caroline Ducharme as she stepped back onto the court for UConn after nearly a year and a half away from competition. The redshirt junior guard made her first appearance of the 2024-25 season on Saturday night. She checked in for the final two minutes and 21 seconds of the Huskies’ dominant victory over Butler.
Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers on Caroline Ducharme Returns to UConn
While her stat line only included one rebound, her presence on the court symbolized months of hard work and perseverance. The moment marked the end of a grueling recovery process and a hopeful new chapter in her basketball career.
Caroline Ducharme makes her first appearance of the season https://t.co/bQaGdacMdC pic.twitter.com/WnSBFyRmmA
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) February 22, 2025
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who had closely followed Ducharme’s recovery, expressed his excitement about her long-awaited comeback. Acknowledging her struggles, he emphasized how much effort she put into returning to the court. He said:
“Caroline makes her season debut tonight. Just how happy are you for her to see her get healthy again and have her check into the game? Well, I know it’s been a long time coming for her.”
Auriemma also reiterated how significant the moment was for the entire team.
“It’s been a long time coming for her,” he said.
“She’s been through a lot. (She) finally got cleared and was hoping to get an opportunity. So I’m glad that we were able to give her that and build on it little by little and see where that takes us. But I’m — and I know the players are too — we’re pretty excited. She’s worked awfully hard to get to this point.”
Paige Bueckers, one of UConn’s biggest stars, shared how much Ducharme’s return meant to her and the team.
“It brings you to tears because of everything she’s been through and everything she’s overcome and how much work she’s put into it,” Bueckers said.
The emotional significance of the moment was clear to her teammates, who have supported Ducharme throughout her long recovery.
Bueckers continued, emphasizing the resilience and determination Ducharme had shown over the past year. She said:
“So just to have that moment, no matter how long or what the stakes are, just to see her back out there doing what she loves, knowing she’s getting rewarded for a lot of hard work and a lot of faith and a lot of just tough journey. But it’s made her stronger, and she’s never wavered in who she is. She’s a great person, a great teammate.”
Caroline Ducharme Overcoming Injury and Setbacks
Ducharme had been sidelined for the first 27 games of the season due to lingering head and neck issues. Her battle with concussions had plagued her since early in her UConn career, forcing her to miss significant time in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Just when it seemed she was on the path to recovery, she suffered another setback in November 2023 after experiencing severe turbulence during the Huskies’ flight to the Cayman Islands, triggering similar symptoms.
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Her journey back to the court has not been easy, but her return against Butler was a sign that she is finally moving in the right direction. While her minutes were limited, this game marked a crucial first step toward regaining her role on the team.
As UConn prepares for the final stretch of the season, Ducharme’s progress will be closely watched, with hopes that she can contribute meaningfully down the road.
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