UConn sophom*ore Paige Bueckers (5) sustained a knee injury in the fourth quarter of a win over Notre Dame on Sunday in Storrs, Conn. Photo by Stephen Slade/UConn Athletics
Dec. 6 (UPI) -- UConn guard Paige Bueckers, the reigning women's basketball National Player of the Year, sustained a non-contact left knee injury late in a Huskies win over rival Notre Dame.
Bueckers sustained the injury with about 44 seconds remaining in the 73-54 victory Sunday in Storrs, Conn. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma told reporters that the initial diagnosis was a hyperextension.
"You immediately put yourself in that kid's shoes," Auriemma said. "That's the part that really hits you in the pit of your stomach.
"Initial report is that she might have hyperextended it, but I think the first thing that goes through your mind is the worst thing."
The Huskies led 70-52 when Bueckers dribbled the ball toward half court. She walked and bounced the ball on the right flank at the start of the sequence. Bueckers then took a jab step with her left foot and went to the ground. She got up, picked up her dribble and went right, but hobbled before she went back to the ground.
Several teammates and UConn coaches checked on the Huskies star before they helped her get to her feet and took her to the bench.
Bueckers, a sophom*ore, scored a game-high 22 points in the win. She also totaled five steals, four assists and four rebounds.
The Huskies (5-1) face Georgia Tech (6-2) at 7 p.m. EST Thursday at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta.
"I don't have an answer for why she was [still] in the game," Auriemma said. "But yeah, I don't like our team without her on the court."
Buckers is averaged 21.1 points per game over her first six appearances this season. She averaged 20 points per game in 2020-21.
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FAQs
How many years of eligiblity does Paige Bueckers have? A recent post by TheUConnBlog revealed that beyond the 2023-24 season, Bueckers has two years of eligibility remaining. Those years are due to a redshirt season and the COVID-19 ruling.
How did Paige Bueckers tear ACL? ›
However, in August 2022, she suffered a torn ACL while playing a round of pickup basketball at the Werth Champions Center. “I knew it was bad. I felt a pop. I'm not really sure if I heard it, but I felt it for sure,” Bueckers said after the injury, per The UConn Blog.
Does Paige Bueckers get paid? ›
Paige Bueckers' Salary
She only earns through her basketball skills , her NIL and endorsem*nt deals. Once she gets drafted into a team in the WNBA, she will sign her first official contract and receive her first salary as a professional.
What happened with Paige Bueckers? ›
Bueckers suffered a knee injury and had ankle surgery in 2021, which sidelined her for half of her sophom*ore season. She also missed her entire junior season due to an ACL injury.
Is Paige Bueckers a senior in 2024? ›
UConn's Paige Bueckers Announces Return for Senior Season, Will Forgo 2024 WNBA Draft. Paige Bueckers will return to UConn for her senior season instead of entering the 2024 WNBA draft, where she was projected to be a top-three pick. Bueckers made the announcement Friday during UConn's Senior Night celebration.
How much NIL money does Paige Bueckers make? ›
Paige Bueckers, G, UConn
With partners like Dunkin', Nike, Bose, and Gatorade, Bueckers has amassed a reported $652,000 in NIL earnings.
Is Paige Bueckers doing a fifth year? ›
Paige Bueckers is staying for a fifth year at UConn, which could affect the Mystics in 2025, or even 2026. The college superstar will stay for a fifth year in Connecticut, which will make her a coveted pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
What did Paige do to her knee? ›
Bueckers tore the ACL in her left knee during a pickup game in August 2022. She had problems in that knee prior to the ACL injury, including a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear that kept her out of action for almost three months during the 2021-22 season.
Is Paige Bueckers back? ›
The Paige Bueckers era at UConn will continue on into 2025.
Does Paige Bueckers have a Nike deal? ›
The 21-year-old signed an NIL partnership with shoe brand giant Nike, specifically with its basketball sector, on Wednesday. "I am blessed and honored to announce my partnership with Nike," Bueckers said in a statement. "Joining the Nike family is a childhood dream come true.
A senior academically, Bueckers made the announcement during senior night ceremonies at Gampel Pavilion following the team's 85-44 win over Georgetown on Friday night.
How much is Angel Reese paid? ›
Angel signed a four-year, $324,383 contract with the Chicago Sky, per Spotrac. She'll earn $73,439 in her first year, which increases each season until she hits $93,636 in her fourth year (assuming the Sky use her fourth-year option).
Does Paige Bueckers have a black brother? ›
In total, then, Paige has three half-siblings. She has described her brother Drew as her best friend, and has expressed support for Black Lives Matter in part because Drew is biracial. She participated in protests in Minnesota following the death of George Floyd.
Is Paige Bueckers good? ›
As the point guard, Bueckers ranked 11th nationally in total points and sixth in total assists, leading UConn to Big East regular-season and tournament titles before a trip to the Final Four. Three years and two major knee injuries later, Bueckers is even better.
How many years has Paige Bueckers been at UConn? ›
Bueckers is a veteran in Storrs, having played at UConn for three different seasons. Her maiden season came in 2020-21, one year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought collegiate sports to a halt.
Does Paige Bueckers have more eligibility? ›
Since she missed 2022-23 as a medical redshirt and has the additional Covid year of eligibility, Bueckers can play two more seasons at UConn after this one.
How many years of eligibility for Paige Bueckers? ›
The others — Azzi Fudd, Jana El-Alfy, Caroline Ducharme and Annaya Patterson — all are expected back by the fall. Edwards and Muhl did not announce their plans, saying after the celebration that their decisions will come later. Bueckers has two years of eligibility remaining. Edwards, Muhl and Griffin each have one.
When can Paige Bueckers return? ›
When Bueckers was honored during the program's senior night festivities, she announced her intentions to return to the Huskies for the 2024-25 season. Bueckers' announcement was met with widespread approval from the fans at Connecticut's Gampel Pavillion, though many outside did not understand the decision.
