UConn’s Paige Bueckers: “I want to prove I’m a winner at every level” | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The desire to win a national championship is driving Paige Bueckers’ final season at UConn.

“I want to prove that I’m a winner at every level,” she told The Ringer’s Mirin Fader.

Fader explained how Bueckers made the comment while in the Huskies’ team facility, which is decorated with photos of legendary players from the program’s history and memories of past successes.

The 1.80 m tall guard has already had an impressive career. As a true freshman, she was the national player of the year. She returned from a torn ACL to become a unanimous All-American for the second time last year. And UConn has managed to reach the Final Four in all three seasons it has been healthy.

However, head coach Geno Auriemma knows what is at stake from the legacy coaching perspective.

“If, for whatever reason, we don’t win a national championship this year, she’s going to think, ‘I’m the best player to ever play in Connecticut who didn’t win a national championship,'” he told Fader.

In addition to being a four-time champion, Breanna Stewart was also a four-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player winner. Diana Taurasi won three titles. Sue Bird, Tina Charles and Maya Moore each won two titles. Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters were part of the 1994-95 team that won a title and marked the beginning of the UConn dynasty.

The women’s basketball landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, even since Stewart graduated in 2016. The talent is becoming increasingly scattered and Auriemma can no longer rely on having the kind of star-studded cast that was regularly seen in Storrs.

Just like UCLA couldn’t be the kings of men’s soccer forever, the rest of the field would chase the Huskies sooner or later. Because of this, it would be a little unfair to hold Bueckers up to the standards of previous generations of UConn Kings.

However, if she fails to win a national title, it would be a notable omission on an otherwise unblemished resume.