UConn coach Geno Auriemma sparked some controversy during last year’s NCAA Tournament when he declared that his star guard, Paige Bueckers, was the best player in the country.
While his statement raised eyebrows, especially considering Iowa’s standout Caitlin Clark, Auriemma remained firm in his assessment.
With a career-high 40-point performance in this year’s Sweet 16, Bueckers continues to showcase why she’s considered one of the top talents in the game—and possibly the best player in this year’s tournament.
Bueckers and her UConn teammates are chasing a national title, something Clark fell short of with Iowa after losing twice in the championship game. But first, the Huskies (34-3) face Southern California (31-3) in an Elite Eight rematch.
“You try not to think about the stakes, the pressure, or getting to the Final Four,” Bueckers said. “Obviously, it’s there, so you try not to focus on it and just play every game like it’s your last, like it’s the most important 40 minutes of your life.”
With Paige Bueckers projected to be the top pick in April’s WNBA Draft, every game could be her final one with UConn. She stepped up in the second half on Saturday, leading the Huskies to an 82-59 victory over Oklahoma.
Paige Bueckers’ 40-point performance surpassed her previous career high of 34, which she set during UConn’s second-round win over South Dakota State in her final home game at Gampel Pavilion.
She also tied her career best with six three-pointers against Oklahoma before leaving the game to a standing ovation.
“Paige was spectacular,” Auriemma said. “That was one of the best games I’ve seen her play during her time here, and it came at the most important moment. When you’re a senior with as much experience as she has, this is exactly what you’re here for. This is why you came to UConn.”
Bueckers joined UConn in 2020 and was named the consensus national player of the year as a freshman. She played just 17 games the following season and missed the entire 2022-23 campaign due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
This season, Paige Bueckers earned AP All-America honors and was named Big East Player of the Year for the third time.
Auriemma has guided UConn to a record 11 national championships, with the most recent win in 2016. Last season, the Huskies were defeated by Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Final Four.
“Paige has been an incredible player for years now,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “She plays efficiently, with the ability to score, pass, and get others involved without the ball. What we’re seeing now is a sense of urgency—there’s a different energy in her expression. It’s not about waiting for the next opportunity; it’s about seizing it right now.”
Fans were hoping for an Elite Eight matchup between Bueckers and USC star guard JuJu Watkins, but Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second round. USC also lost to UConn in the Elite Eight last year when Watkins was a freshman.
Without Watkins, USC received strong performances from freshmen Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell in their 67-61 win over Kansas State on Saturday. The Trojans are aiming for their first national title since winning back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984, though Watkins’ absence significantly impacts their chances.
Bueckers understands that struggle firsthand, having missed two seasons due to an ACL injury.
“I know that a big part of my journey last year was wanting to inspire people who’ve faced serious injuries or devastating setbacks,” Bueckers said. “You can come back stronger and better, and no one can write you off or box you into those injury-related narratives. You have the power to break those expectations and return stronger than ever—mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
