Paige Bueckers, forgoing WNBA Draft, returning to UConn in 2024-25
UConn guard and former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers will be forgoing the WNBA Draft and returning to UConn for the 2024-25 season.
The Hopkins, Minnesota native revealed her decision during UConn's senior night when she addressed the crowd before the Huskies' 85-44 win over Georgetown on Friday night.
"I can't put into words what this program has meant to me," Beuckers said. "...Everybody wants me to address the elephant in the room. Unfortunately, this will not be my last year."
"This will not be my last Senior Night"
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 17, 2024
PAIGE BUECKERS IS RETURNING TO UCONN NEXT YEAR 🔥 pic.twitter.com/o4b0wQYSPX
Bueckers's career has been a ride since graduating from Hopkins High School as the No. 1 high school recruit in the Class of 2020.
Buckers averaged 20 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while leading the Huskies to the National Semifinals in her freshman year and led UConn to the National Championship Game when Minneapolis hosted the Women's Final Four in 2021, but a series of injuries including a torn ACL that kept her out the entire 2022-23 season has delivered adversity throughout her collegiate career.
"Obviously, these four years didn't go how I planned or how I wanted it to go," Bueckers said in her speech. "I wouldn't be able to get through what I went through without everybody here."
Bueckers has averaged 20 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game in 27 games for the Huskies this season and was listed as The Athletic's No. 2 prospect in the 2024 WNBA Draft behind Iowa's Caitlyn Clark last April.
With another year under her belt, Buckers could get another healthy year under her belt and be one of the top prospects in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
