Paige Bueckers, one of the top prospects for the 2025 WNBA Draft, has her eyes set on the professional stage. However, her path to the pros has been challenged by inconsistent performances this season, especially with a recent loss to Tennessee exposing some of her weaknesses.
UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma has been vocal about these concerns, especially after Bueckers’ lackluster showing in the defeat.
Paige Bueckers’ WNBA Dreams and Geno Auriemma’s Critique
In a post-game interview following UConn’s 80-76 loss to Tennessee, Auriemma didn’t hold back when discussing Bueckers’ struggles.
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean, it’s a real conundrum,” Auriemma said. “Paige wants to go all the time. And we try to get her moving from, you know, one thing to another, moving without the ball. And it’s so, so hard. It’s been a new thing here, how we’re going to handle it. Right now, it’s not the winning edge for sure.”
“Paige wants the ball in her hands all the time, then when they trap her she don’t want the ball in her hands.”
UConn HC Geno Auriemma doesn’t think Paige Bueckers is giving the Huskies the “winning edge” 😳 pic.twitter.com/IlxZZifyeq
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 7, 2025
Bueckers finished the game with just 14 points, a poor showing considering she’s typically UConn’s top scorer. Tennessee’s defense was able to trap her, limiting her ability to get the ball in her hands and execute.
Auriemma pointed out that Bueckers has struggled to adjust when faced with these defensive traps. Well, something that will need improvement if she is to succeed at the next level.
Despite the criticism, Bueckers remains firm in her decision to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. After the Tennessee loss, she answered questions about her intentions.
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Bueckers confirmed.
This statement aligned with her previous public declarations about her WNBA aspirations.
Auriemma’s critique didn’t dampen her resolve, but it did highlight that she is not yet perfect. As one of the most highly anticipated players in the 2025 draft class, Bueckers must prove she can perform consistently at a high level.
Paige Bueckers Takes Accountability for Her Struggles
Bueckers herself admitted after the game that she was responsible for some of her struggles.
“I feel like it was more myself, taking myself out of rhythm,” she said.
The star guard recognized that her lack of focus played a significant role in her underwhelming performance. Bueckers is known for her leadership and ability to take charge of games. She acknowledged that she had not been able to do so in this one, something she would need to fix moving forward.
Auriemma’s criticism was also a call for Bueckers to step up and show more consistency.
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“The bottom line is, we have some players on our team, supposed to be our best players and they got to play better. That’s all there is to it,” he remarked.
With the WNBA draft looming, Bueckers must clearly continue to develop and refine her game, especially when it comes to handling defensive schemes and keeping her rhythm.
