The UConn Huskies continued their dominance in the NCAA Tournament, securing a commanding victory in the Sweet Sixteen. On Saturday night, Paige Bueckers delivered a career-defining performance.
She, along with her team, guided No. 2-seeded UConn to an 82-59 rout over No. 3-seeded Oklahoma. Well, with that, they punched their ticket to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.
Payton Verhulst Acknowledges Paige Bueckers’ Greatness
Prior to the game, Oklahoma guard Payton Verhulst spoke about the challenge of facing UConn, especially how the Sooners’ experience in SEC play had prepared them for tough matchups.
A video of her press conference was posted on the X page of UConn on SNY. That’s where she credited Bueckers’ elite talent and the high level of competition in the SEC for getting Oklahoma battle-ready. She said,
“I think just looking at Paige Bueckers, obviously she’s a great player. I do think that the SEC has gotten us ready for really good guards. I mean, you look at Georgia A-1 and you’ve got to play Kentucky twice. So I think just learning from things like that will definitely benefit us in this game.”
Payton Verhulst credits UConn and Paige Bueckers, while also feeling that Oklahoma’s experience in SEC play have prepared them for tough challenges pic.twitter.com/sPRBXDBywr
— UConn on SNY (@SNYUConn) March 28, 2025
Despite Oklahoma’s strong credentials, the Huskies proved too much to handle. The Sooners had entered the matchup riding high after a dominant 96-62 win over Iowa in the second round, showing they were capable of competing with the best.
Their season finished tied for fourth in the SEC with an 11-5 conference record, trailing only No. 1-seeded Texas, South Carolina, and No. 3-seeded LSU.
Verhulst doubled down on Oklahoma’s preparation, emphasizing the competition they faced throughout the season. She also said:
“I mean, you look at Georgia Amoore, we got to play Kentucky twice, so I think just learning from things like that will definitely benefit us in this game.”
Bueckers’ Historic Performance Shatters Records
While Oklahoma had confidence in their preparation, nothing could have prepared them for the offensive explosion from Bueckers. The projected No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft delivered the best game of her collegiate career.
She torched the Sooners with a career-high 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting while adding six rebounds. In doing so, she etched her name in the UConn record books. She became the first player in the program’s storied history to score 40 points in a single NCAA Tournament game.
Bueckers’ performance also placed her among an exclusive group in tournament history. She became just the third player ever from any school to drop 40 points in a Sweet Sixteen game—the first since Baylor legend Brittney Griner achieved the feat in 2011.
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From the opening tip-off, Bueckers set the tone with her elite shot-making, court vision, and composure. Oklahoma’s defense had no answer for her relentless scoring, and each bucket she made seemed to demoralize the Sooners further.
With the victory, UConn will remain in Spokane, Washington, awaiting its next challenge. They will face the winner of No. 1-seeded USC and No. 5-seeded Kansas State in the Elite Eight, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. All eyes will be on Bueckers once again as she looks to lead the Huskies one step closer to championship glory.
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