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UConn Fans Jokingly Suspect Paige Bueckers' Play Is Hindered by Sue Bird's Presence

Paige Bueckers struggles when UConn Huskies legend Sue Bird is spectating her in person, according to some fans on social media.

Grant Young

Dec 7, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) attempts a shot defended by Louisville Cardinals guard Imari Berry (1) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Dec 7, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) attempts a shot defended by Louisville Cardinals guard Imari Berry (1) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images / Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

The UConn Huskies didn't need a stellar performance from star guard Paige Bueckers to dominate the Louisville Cardinals during Saturday's Women's Champions Classic game.

While Bueckers finished the contest with just 8 points on 2-11 shooting, UConn received stronger offensive contributions from freshman standout Sarah Strong (who scored 21 points), Azzi Fudd (who scored 18 points before suffering an injury scare in the third quarter), and also got 13 points off the bench from sophomore guard Ashlynn Shade.

There's no question that this was a rare off-night offensively for Bueckers (who still made contributions on defense and getting rebounds). But some fans are jokingly noting that most of Bueckers' poorer performances over the past two seasons have come with a common denominator: UConn and WNBA legend Sue Bird is spectating her in person.

X user @paige_report started this discussion with a (joking) X post that said, "If UCONN makes it to the championship game we gotta stop Sue from buying tickets btw".

A fan then responded, "You should calculate Paige’s stats with and without Sue in attendance".

After a response from the initial poster saying, "For that i'd need to know every game Sue has attended, if i can get that i might", the same fan wrote, "This is the past two seasons:

"24-25
- vs FDU
- vs Louisville
"23-24:
- vs Iowa
- vs ND".

This of course is according to just one fan's research regarding confirmed appearances Sue Bird has made at UConn games over the past two seasons.

These numbers led the initial poster to respond by writing, "Paige Bueckers career averages:
19.8 PPG
4.8 RPG
4.5 APG
53.6 FG%

"Paige Bueckers when Sue Bird is in attendance:
14.5 PPG
6.3 RPG
4.5 APG
33.8 FG%".

Again, this whole conversation is meant in jest and these stats (nor exact number of appearances) are not confirmed.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Bueckers performs next time Bird is in the stands.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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