Great athletes leave a lasting imprint, not just through their stats but by how they inspire those around them. Paige Bueckers has done just that during her time at UConn, cementing herself as one of the greatest to wear the Huskies jersey.
As she played her final regular-season home game, it made her appreciate the team’s impact on her.
Paige Bueckers Etches Her Legacy at UConn With Huskies of Honor Recognition
Paige Bueckers had the chance to witness her younger teammates complete yet another perfect run through the Big East schedule, a testament to the program’s dominance. But as the final buzzer sounded in UConn’s commanding 92-57 win over Marquette, it was Bueckers herself who took center stage.
The Huskies honored her by adding her jersey, No. 5, to the revered Huskies of Honor—an elite club that includes legends such as Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, and Kerry Bascom.
The moment was filled with emotions as teammates and coaches surrounded her, celebrating her remarkable journey. The official Instagram page of UConn Women’s Basketball shared a heartfelt post featuring a team picture with Coach Geno Auriemma and the managers, captioned:
“Thank you to our senior managers! We appreciate your tireless work behind the scenes to support the program 💙.”
Bueckers, recognizing the immense support around her, reshared the post with her own caption: “Our Goats.”
Reflecting on her collegiate career, she was asked how she wanted to be remembered at UConn. Her response was simple yet profound:
“A person who wore the jersey with pride, loved her teammates, loved her coaching staff and enjoyed the journey,” Bueckers said. “I just (want to) be remembered for being a great teammate and a great leader.”
Bueckers’ on-court brilliance was once again on display as she put up 19 points, dished out seven assists, and recorded three steals in the victory over Marquette. Her presence at Gampel Pavilion has been nothing short of legendary—UConn boasts a 31-1 record when she is on the floor.
Over her 32 games at Gampel, she has averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, solidifying her status as one of the most impactful players in the program’s storied history.
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Though this marked her final regular-season home game, UConn fans have more opportunities to watch her in action. The Huskies will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and the Big East Tournament will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. This means Bueckers will still have a few more moments to shine in front of her home crowd before her collegiate journey concludes.
Before Bueckers’ jersey was unveiled in the rafters, UConn also honored seniors Kaitlyn Chen, Azzi Fudd, and Aubrey Griffin in a heartfelt pregame ceremony. While Bueckers has embraced the culmination of her collegiate career, Fudd’s future remains uncertain.
”I have to sit down, talk with my family and talk to people closest to me and talk about the decisions and the options,” Fudd said. “I am a big pros and cons lister to get the emotions out of doing that and just write down the facts.”
Geno Auriemma’s Perspective on Player Decisions
UConn has a long history of players facing similar crossroads—some have chosen to leave early for the WNBA, while others have returned to further refine their game. Head coach Geno Auriemma emphasized that players should leave only when they feel completely ready for the next level.
“I’ve always thought to myself that players have to be tremendously confident when they leave here about what the next step for them is and I just want her to make sure that she has played enough basketball here, done enough things, tested herself enough that she feels 100% ready to go,” Auriemma said.
“Kids may ask my opinion, but in the end, they are going to have to make that decision.”
Auriemma expects that Fudd will make her decision within the next couple of weeks. Among the honorees, Kaitlyn Chen had a unique journey to UConn. A three-year starter at Princeton, she transferred to UConn for her final collegiate season and immediately made an impact.
She, along with freshman Sarah Strong, has been one of the only Huskies to start every game this season, showcasing her resilience and adaptability.
Aubrey Griffin, despite making her 41st career start, was stepping into the starting lineup for the first time this season. Her steady contributions have added valuable depth to the team.
On Senior Night, Fudd finished with 12 points, Griffin added 11, and Chen contributed two points to the victory.
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As Bueckers prepares for the next phase of her career, her impact at UConn is undeniable. She has set a standard not just for excellence on the court but also for leadership and dedication to the program.
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