That doesnt necessarily mean Bueckers return to action is imminent. A lot has happened over the past year things that could bring people down, Bueckers said. UConn is the No. At Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN and received national high school player of the year honors. During the postgame press conference, Williams explained their win in the simplest way she could. [3], Her sister Claire Decker also races for her family's Decker Racing team. [17][18] She led her team in three-point shooting and ranked second in assists. Our program will support Paige through her healing process to help her come back better and stronger.. Still, UConn will be without its best player for a long stretch of the season. But I dont think you can., The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Punches thrown, three ejected in wild March Madness brawl, Iowa State kicks senior guard off team: Said something I regret, Alabama making themselves March Madness villains, Fordham sets sights on first Big Dance in more than 30 years, ead the Huskies to their 13th consecutive Final Four. 1 UConn in Final Four", "UConn women's basketball's Paige Bueckers wins Wooden Award, sweeps all national player of the year awards for which she was eligible", "UConn freshman Paige Bueckers leads women's AP All-America team", "USBWA names 202021 Women's All-America Team", United States Basketball Writers Association, "Bueckers Tabbed to WBCA Coaches' All-America Team", "Bueckers Named Nancy Lieberman Award Winner", "USBWA Names Tamika Catchings Award, Coach of the Year Winners", "UConn's Bueckers, Iowa's Clark named 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Co-Freshmen of the Year presented by adidas", "Paige Bueckers' sensational freshman season comes to a close in women's Final Four", "Freshman phenom: How UConn's Paige Bueckers' 202021 season stacks up against the all-time greats", "Paige Bueckers wins ESPY Award, advocates for Black female athletes", "The Ludicrous, Unprecedented Greatness of Paige Bueckers", "UConn questions: Paige Bueckers' development, newcomers adapting, managing crowded roster", "Bueckers can pass off the court as well", "UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers undergoes right ankle surgery", "Paige Bueckers 'really excited' about UConn's direction heading into 202122 season", "Loaded UConn women push for program's 12th national title", "Bueckers Is Unanimous Choice For Big East Preseason Player of the Year", "UConn Huskies' Paige Bueckers tops AP's preseason All-America team", "The Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd era at UConn is about to arrive and the rest of the college basketball world ought to watch out", "UConn women's basketball downs Arkansas, 9580", "What we learned from UConn's win over Arkansas: Bueckers leads, defensive holes, bench play", "Paige Bueckers scores career-high 34 points as UConn women's basketball opens with win over Arkansas", "UConn's Paige Bueckers out 68 weeks with fracture", "UConn women's star Paige Bueckers out eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery on left knee", "Bueckers returns as No. [99] Bueckers entered her sophomore season as a unanimous selection for both Big East Preseason Player of the Year and the AP preseason All-America team. Now, the coach will have to find a way to cope without his go-to player. [137] She has a slim build, which encourages opposing teams to force her to play through contact,[136] and displays quickness and agility. [40], On January 29, 2020, during her senior season, Bueckers became the first female high school player to be featured on the cover of basketball magazine Slam. Thanks for contacting us. Join Facebook to connect with Paige Decker and others you may know. [100][101] Among the newcomers to UConn was Azzi Fudd, the number one recruit in the 2021 class and Bueckers' close friend. SAN ANTONIO - UConn women's basketball freshman Paige Bueckers was selected as the 2021 AP Player of the Year, as announced by the Associated Press Wednesday. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Paige Bueckers. She also has a deal with the global sneaker and streetwear reseller StockX. Paige is obviously an amazing basketball player but shes a better person and teammate and its really unfortunate that this has happened to her. Sports. An MRI and CT scan revealed the injury, which is a break of the larger lower leg bone below the knee that breaks into the knee joint itself, according to the Reno Orthopedic Center. When Bueckers went down, the Huskies were up by 18 and the game was effectively over. She posted 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 7470 overtime win over Australia for the gold medal. 3 UConn holds off No. Contents 1 Racing career 1.1 NASCAR 2 Personal life 3 Images 4 Motorsports career results 4.1 NASCAR [16] On April 1, 2019, Bueckers announced her commitment to University of Connecticut. [97] She could not practice for most of the offseason while recovering from surgery,[98] but was cleared to return by October. Player of the Year; Finalist for national award", "Paige Bueckers of Hopkins is the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year", "Paige Bueckers: 'I don't want to just be a high school legend.' Shes a pain in the ass to have on the bench because all she does is complain about why shes not playing, he said. All other winners have been. UConn star Paige Bueckers appeared to suffer a scary non-contact injury on Sunday during the Huskies win over Notre Dame. [79] At the Final Four, UConn was upset by third-seeded Arizona, 6959, and finished the season with a 282 record. She has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series and was a 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. She's Paving Its Future", "Even UConn legends awed by Paige Bueckers' 'ridiculous' freshman season", "UConn's Williams Named Big East Preseason Player of the Year", "Behind dazzling debut from Paige Bueckers, UConn women dominate UMass Lowell, 79-23, in season opener", "Bueckers steps up in the clutch, No. Every decision made will prioritize whats best for Paige and her career. Connecticut's Paige Bueckers is helped off the court after being injured against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. 2021 - All-Conference, Indoor: Triple Jump (8th place). [42][43] She led Hopkins to the Class 4A state championship game, which was canceled on March 13 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [102], Bueckers made her season debut on November 14, 2021, recording a career-high 34 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 9580 win against Arkansas. The seriousness of the injury was clear right away because she had to be carried off the court. [75] On March 8, Bueckers recorded 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 7339 win over Marquette at the Big East tournament title game. She became the first player in program history to have three straight 30-point games. [169], In May 2022, Bueckers was named executive producer of WBB Takeover as part of a two-day basketball showcase hosted by the sports media brand Overtime. She would later collapse in front of the Huskies bench and she had to be helped off the court. [4] Then she moved up to racing in Super Late Models. Bracketology: Huskies stock rising after dispatching Providence, UConn mens hockey survives Alaska Anchorage in overtime, 4-3, Takeaways: Huskies offense shines in beatdown of No. She has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series and was a 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. The Huskies were in control most of the way as they claimed a sweep of the Wildcats. [69] Late in the game, Bueckers sprained her ankle, causing her to miss the next contest against Georgetown. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. They are joined on the team by their younger cousin NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver Natalie Decker. Getting to the Final Four my freshman year and the national championship last year, the only thing left to do is win it. [38][39] In August 2019, she was named AAU Player of the Year by Prep Girls Hoops. 1 South Carolina on February 8, 2021[67], On December 12, 2020, Bueckers made her collegiate debut for UConn, recording 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 7923 win over UMass Lowell. list of mortuary science schools in kenya. 74 Chevrolet for owner/driver Mike Harmon, but was one of four teams that failed to qualify. The university said her recovery was estimated to take eight weeks, which would mean the week of Feb. 7. [138] An adept passer and ball handler,[139] Bueckers has described herself as a "pass-first" player. Anyone can read what you share. [128] Bueckers was named Most Valuable Player and made the All-Tournament Team. She was the first freshman to earn the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, AP Player of the Year and USBWA Player of the Year. Bueckers, who is from Edina, Minnesota, is averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds this season. Facebook gives people the power to. [78] She was recognized as MOP of the River Walk Regional. I'm always surprised when she shoots and it doesn't go in. Bueckers is not the only player worth watching in women's college basketball, but her star power and impact on the game is undeniable. [4] When Bueckers was three years old, her parents divorced. [76], On March 21, Bueckers recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a 10259 win over 16th-seeded High Point in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament. Teammates gather around Connecticut's Paige Bueckers in their game against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. Paige DeckerSprints / Jumps - Career Summary | Career Results 2021-22: Outdoor: competed in four meets with three top 10 finishes. It would be really hard to describe how much basketball means to Paige and how much her teammates mean to her. Still, the Minnesota native filled up the trophy case in her first season, earning the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and AP Player of the Year honors. With just seconds left in the game, Bueckers was dribbling up the court, stumbled and took an awkward fall. 14 UConn mens basketball at Villanova | 7:30 p.m. She passed peacefully in bed at home in Spokan UConns next game is on Thursday at Georgia Tech. Working with the nonprofit branch of Chegg, she partnered with hunger relief company Goodr to host a free pop-up grocery market in Minneapolis to address food insecurity among college students. Those stats weren't as strong as they were in her freshman season, but they would've likely been the same or better had it not been for her midseason injury. Its amazing, surreal for people to think of me that highly and to be in that position as a freshman, Bueckers said. [29], As a junior on February 1, 2019, Bueckers scored a career-high 43 points in a 6966 win over Wayzata High School and surpassed 2,000 career points. The following week, Bueckers underwent surgery for an anterior tibial plateau fracture and a lateral meniscus tear on her left leg. While she will continue to wear Nike apparel in games due to UConn's contract with the company, she will wear other brands while promoting StockX off the court. Bueckers went down with 38.5 seconds left in UConns 73-54 win over Notre Dame on Sunday. But. [13] By that time, she was also playing year-round with North Tartan, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) program competing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, a national circuit. UConn was up 18 points with about 39 seconds remaining in the game when her leg appeared to buckle while she was bringing up the ball. [116][117] In a 6449 loss to top-seeded South Carolina at the national championship game,[118] Bueckers was the only UConn player to score in double digits as she posted 14 points and six rebounds, and was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She's pointing and gesturing, she's screaming and chest-bumping a teammate, she's bouncing off her seat and reacting. Bueckers was born on October 20, 2001, in Edina, Minnesota, and grew up in neighboring St. Louis Park. The official 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster for the University of Connecticut Huskies . [27] Bueckers was also recognized as Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year for athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. Bueckers is impactful on both sides of the ball, and the Huskies will certainly miss that next season as they figure out their depth. UConn's first loss came at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas last November, a 73-57 result in favor of South Carolina. Paige Decker - 2017-18 - Women's Basketball - Southern Connecticut State University Athletics Southern Connecticut State University Athletics #WeAreSC Main Navigation Menu Sports Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer Swimming & Diving Track & Field Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse Bracketology: Huskies stock rising after dispatching Providence, UConn mens hockey survives Alaska Anchorage in overtime, 4-3, Takeaways: Huskies offense shines in beatdown of No. 1 South Carolina in OT", "Record-setting day from Paige Bueckers, strong game from Aaliyah Edwards help UConn women close out Butler, 9768", "Bueckers Sweeps Big East Player, Freshman of the Year Honors", "Paige Bueckers, UConn Huskies beat Marquette Golden Eagles for Big East women's basketball title", "Paige Bueckers helps UConn rout High Point 10259 in NCAA opener", "UConn reaches 13th straight Final Four, beating Baylor 6967", "UConn's Paige Bueckers adds another two honors to her historic freshman season", "Third-seeded Arizona stuns No. Injured UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers participated in pregame warm-ups and drills with her teammates Wednesday night at the XL Center. Bueckers was recognized as USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2019. suffering a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee. [153] Described as the "face of NIL" for women's basketball by The Athletic,[154] industry analysts have projected her as having one of the highest earning potentials from NIL among college athletes, because of both her success in basketball and her large social media following. The 5-foot-11 guard will be entering her sophomore season with a bigger role than she probably expected. ), * Season still in progress [32][33] Hopkins finished the season with a 320 record. [3], Decker raced in asphalt short tracks in Wisconsin and gradually branched out to other tracks in the Midwestern United States. Dorka hasnt practiced all week so shes just kind of getting back into the swing of things, little bit at a time, Auriemma said. Bueckers has averaged 21.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game through six games. She also believed that she could immediately have a key role at UConn, with the expected graduation of point guard Crystal Dangerfield, and was attracted by its team-oriented play style. In March 2021, analyst Monica McNutt touted Bueckers as "arguably one of the best playmakers in the game". [120] As a sophomore, she averaged 14.6 points, four rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. In her first season at UConn, Bueckers was a unanimous first-team All-American and became the first freshman to earn a major national women's college player of the year award, winning all four for which she was eligible. 5 . * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). UConn has been an established powerhouse for a long while now with 11 national championships, but until earlier this year, the Huskies hadn't reached the title game since 2016. G 5'11" Jr. Hopkins, Minn. Hopkins HS. UConn is 1-1 since Bueckerss injury, losing at unranked Georgia Tech last Thursday and beating unranked U.C.L.A. [92] Analysts have considered Bueckers' freshman season to be among the best in UConn and NCAA history. [136], Bueckers stands 5feet 11inches (1.80m) and plays the point guard position. [5][11] She grew up supporting the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. I kind of had a premonition that that first quarter was going to go the way it did. [6] She has NASCAR certification to run short tracks in the Truck Series only; her goal is to race in the Xfinity Series. Paige Madison Bueckers[1] (/bkrz/ BEH-krz; born October 20, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the UConn Huskies of the Big East Conference. Bueckers missed most of her sophomore season with a left knee injury but led her team to the national championship game. [4], She is a Christian and attributes her confidence and success on the basketball court to God. It could happen in the game. Bueckers' arrival in 2020 proved to be the push in the right direction UConn needed. [45][46][47] She averaged 21.4 points, 9.4 assists, 5.4 steals and five rebounds per game, leading Hopkins to another undefeated season and 62 consecutive wins. Its also just exciting to have her around as a teammate, having on the bench, telling us stuff. [1], On August 3, 2022, UConn announced that Bueckers had torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during a pick-up game on August 1 and would miss the entire 202223 season. 14 UConn mens basketball at Villanova | 7:30 p.m. Connecticut's Paige Bueckers steals the ball from Notre Dame's Sonia Citron on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. [3] Decker was awarded the tour's Rookie of the Year in 2013.[3][2]. Bueckers is one of four Huskies currently injured, along with the freshman Azzi Fudd (foot), the sophomore Nika Muhl (foot) and the junior Aubrey Griffin (back, ankle). [5] She joined the TUNDRA Super Late Model Tour in 2013. [49] She was named Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year,[18] Gatorade National Player of the Year,[50] Naismith Prep Player of the Year,[51] Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year,[52] and Minnesota Miss Basketball. 9 UConn vs Georgetown. "The first thing that goes through your mind is the worst thing," Auriemma said.