It has been eight seasons since the UConn women’s basketball team won a national championship, and this season myriad of injuries have put the spotlight back on redshirt junior guard Paige Bueckers.

Bueckers was named a preseason All-American, and the Huskies were ranked in the top five of several preseason polls. After overcoming a series of injuries, Bueckers led the Huskies in scoring and blocks during the 2023-2024 regular season, and she led her team to a Big East championship.

Here is what you need to know about UConn star Paige Bueckers:

Paige Bueckers in high school

During a prolific prep career at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was named Gatorade National Player of the Year during her senior year after averaging 24.4 points and 5.1 assists while leading her team to the state championship. She was also named Minnesota Miss Basketball as the best player in the state and recognized as a McDonald’s All-American.

Paige Bueckers national player of the year

As one of the most touted recruits in the nation, Bueckers’ freshman season at UConn did not disappoint. She averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading the Huskies to the Final Four.

The Associated Press named her a first-team All-American, and she won AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year and the Wooden Award as the nation’s best player.

Read more (via USA Today)