In an electrifying locker room moment following UConn’s Final Four victory over UCLA, star player Paige Bueckers rallied her teammates with a powerful message of determination. The Huskies’ leader didn’t mince words as she emphasized that despite their final four success, they haven’t reached their peak yet, saving their best for the ultimate challenge.
With the National Championship against South Carolina looming on Sunday, Bueckers’ passionate address reflected the moment’s weight and her leadership role. For the projected top WNBA draft pick, this championship represents the final piece of her collegiate legacy, a chance to join the pantheon of UConn legends who have hoisted the trophy.
“We Still Got Another Level to Tap Into”: Bueckers Rallies Troops After Final Four Victory
“but I still think we got another level to tap into, and that’s what we save it for,” Bueckers told her attentive teammates in the UConn locker room. Her words, captured in a video shared by NCAA March Madness’ official account, emphasized that the Huskies’ best basketball is still ahead of them.
“We still got another level to tap in to.” 😤@paigebueckers1 addresses the UConn locker room after advancing to the National Championship. #MarchMadness x #WFinalFour x @UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/IwGcEGOTh6
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 5, 2025
Despite scoring 16 points in the Final Four matchup against UCLA, Bueckers’ focus remained on team excellence rather than individual accolades. The fifth-year guard, who earlier delivered a historic three-game stretch with 105 points, including back-to-back 30+ point performances, emphasized the collective effort needed for championship success.
The 25-year-old standout clarified that UConn’s earlier season loss to South Carolina is irrelevant now. “The game we played earlier in the season means nothing like it’s 0-0,” she stated, firmly resetting the mindset for Sunday’s rematch of the 2022 championship game that South Carolina won.
Demonstrating her veteran leadership, Bueckers balanced inspiration with practical advice. “Get some sleep tonight; get some rest because the game is early on Sunday,” she urged her teammates, highlighting the importance of recovery before adding, “We have 40 minutes to give everything we have in our entire souls and bodies.”
Championship Showdown: UConn Seeks Redemption Against Dominant South Carolina
The matchup features women’s basketball royalty, with UConn’s 11 national championships facing off against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squad seeking back-to-back titles. For the Huskies, victory would mark their first championship since 2016, ending the program’s longest title drought in decades.
South Carolina defeated UConn earlier this season despite the Huskies’ strong transition game, which produced 31 fast break points. Coach Geno Auriemma’s team will need to leverage that speed advantage while containing South Carolina’s aggressive style, which has made them a dominant force in women’s college basketball.
Bueckers, the first freshman to win the Naismith Award, has overcome multiple surgeries to lead UConn to their 16th Final Four in 17 years and now stands a day away from the ultimate prize.
KEEP READING: ‘We Believe in Her’ – Paige Bueckers’ Support for Azzi Fudd Highlights UConn’s Unbreakable Bond
As tipoff approaches for the 3 p.m. ET showdown on Sunday, April 6, both teams understand what’s at stake. For Bueckers and her UConn teammates, heeding their leader’s call to find “another level” could be the difference between heartbreak and history, completing the final chapter of a remarkable collegiate journey.
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