[134], Since high school, Bueckers has received considerable attention as one of the top players of her generation. Bueckers is a sophomore with the Huskies and is widely regarded as one of the best college basketball players in the country. Connecticut - Northeast 10 Athletics Paige Decker #21 G So. [28] She was named Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, becoming the first sophomore to win the award since its creation 34 years earlier. Paige Decker (born March 20, 1993) [1] is an American professional stock car racing driver from Eagle River, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Williams left as the second-leading scorer behind Bueckers, as she averaged 14.2 points per game in 2021-22. Paige Madison Bueckers [1] ( / bkrz / BEH-krz; born October 20, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the UConn Huskies of the Big East Conference . And if you can give me a better argument, then I would say Ill vote for them, too. She would later collapse in front of the Huskies bench and she had to be helped off the court. For those of you out of the loop,. View the profiles of people named Paige Decker. [133] Bueckers averaged 6.5 points per game, second-highest on the team, as the United States lost to Brazil in the quarterfinals and finished in fifth place. [13] By that time, she was also playing year-round with North Tartan, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) program competing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, a national circuit. So, Fudd is now UConn's only double-digit scorer returning. Decker qualified in the fall Martinsville race and finished 30th. The Huskies only played eight players. [170][171], Bueckers' scoring success has earned her the nickname "Paige Buckets". She's Paving Its Future", "Even UConn legends awed by Paige Bueckers' 'ridiculous' freshman season", "UConn's Williams Named Big East Preseason Player of the Year", "Behind dazzling debut from Paige Bueckers, UConn women dominate UMass Lowell, 79-23, in season opener", "Bueckers steps up in the clutch, No. At 10 years old there was nothing Paige Bueckers loved more than basketball. The following week, Bueckers underwent surgery for an anterior tibial plateau fracture and a lateral meniscus tear on her left leg. UConn had to beat Creighton on Wednesday without its head coach after Auriemma stayed back in the locker room due to a non-COVID illness. 1 South Carolina on February 8, 2021[67], On December 12, 2020, Bueckers made her collegiate debut for UConn, recording 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 7923 win over UMass Lowell. [6][2] She had been attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout (pursuing a degree in early childhood education)[6] for two years but had to quit to race in the Southern United States for the season. Legal Statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She also coached and served as a commentator alongside fellow college players Aliyah Boston and Haley Jones during the event. [4] When Bueckers was three years old, her parents divorced. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. [119] Bueckers was an AP All-American Honorable Mention selection. So thats the goal.. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. [77] Bueckers scored a game-high 28 points in a 6967 win over second-seeded Baylor in the Elite Eight to help UConn reach its 13th straight Final Four. Why UConn's Paige Bueckers could cash in more than anyone from the NCAA's new name, image and likeness rules", "UConn's Paige Bueckers Could Make $1 Million a Yearin College", "Paige Bueckers, a College Athlete Who's Cashing In", "Paige Bueckers sees spike on Instagram, reaches one million followers", "Paige Bueckers Eclipses One Million Instagram Followers", "UConn Husky star Paige Bueckers honored by Fortune magazine", "Bueckers Named to The Athletic's College Sports 40 Under 40", "UConn's Paige Bueckers has name, image, likeness deal", "UConn's Paige Bueckers signs another major NIL deal, joins Gatorade", "UConn Star Paige Bueckers Announces Deal With Cash App, Her Third Major NIL Partnership", "UConn star Paige Bueckers' new NIL deal takes aim at food insecurity for students", "UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers announces partnership with Crocs", "Paige Bueckers announces NIL deal with Bose, her first since ACL injury", "UConn stars Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd have NIL deal with Nerf", "Overtime Elite Takeover Weekend hosts Next Generation of Basketball Stars", "Here are 15 women's college basketball players you should watch out for this season", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paige_Bueckers&oldid=1142749059, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 04:20. Decker is the daughter of Allen Decker who comes from a family of snowmobile racing riders. Bueckers had her sights set on a national championship this coming season, telling Bleacher Report that it was the only thing that would make it a success. Odds & lines subject to change. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. She was the first freshman to earn the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, AP Player of the Year and USBWA Player of the Year. [162], In November 2021, Bueckers signed her first two major endorsement deals. [74] After leading UConn to the Big East regular-season title, she was named Big East Player of the Year and unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year, joining Maya Moore as the only players to win both awards in the same season. [3] Sue Decker, Paige's aunt, introduced Danica Patrick's parents. Bueckers' arrival in 2020 proved to be the push in the right direction UConn needed. UConn womens basketball star Paige Bueckers is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee during Sundays win over Notre Dame. Bueckers is having that same impact on a new generation of girls. Bueckers finally looked like her old self during UConn's Elite Eight game against NC State. [125] Bueckers played at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Women's World Cup in Minsk, Belarus. [5][11] She grew up supporting the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. She never wants to come out. She became the first player in program history to have three straight 30-point games. Shes worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback. "Its time we stopped blaming the injuries, stop blaming fatigue, stop blaming tired," Auriemma said after UConn beat Xavier by nine. UConn was up 18 points with about 39 seconds remaining in the game when . [37] That year, Bueckers moved to the Minnesota Metro Stars AAU program, following her former North Tartan coach Tara Starks. Bueckers only had four points in the first half, but she ended the night with a game-high 27 points -- with 15 of those coming after regulation. We've received your submission. Second Five: Derrick McCauley, Waubay;. G 5'11" Jr. Hopkins, Minn. Hopkins HS. Bueckers has been out since injuring her knee on Dec. 5. [24][25], In January 2018, as a sophomore, Bueckers was sidelined with an ankle injury that had been hurting her for the first two months of the season. UConn, ranked No. Anyone can read what you share. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Media at the game described the crowd as going silent. Chasing Perfection: Is it time to be worried about UConn? [75] On March 8, Bueckers recorded 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 7339 win over Marquette at the Big East tournament title game. While she will continue to wear Nike apparel in games due to UConn's contract with the company, she will wear other brands while promoting StockX off the court. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In her first season at UConn, Bueckers was a unanimous first-team All-American and became the first freshman to earn a major national women's college player of the year award, winning all four for which she was eligible. The great freshmen who had done great things in their first year in college basketball, It really is surreal that its never been done before.. The UConn womens basketball team was dealt a sizable blow on Wednesday. She led UConn to the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA tournament and set program records for assists by a freshman and single-game assists. She also believed that she could immediately have a key role at UConn, with the expected graduation of point guard Crystal Dangerfield, and was attracted by its team-oriented play style. Shorthanded at times, the Our Lady of Lourdes High School girls basketball team took a big lead and held on Friday to open its season with a 62-56 triumph over John F. Kennedy Catholic in the Richa [34] Bueckers averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 4.6 steals per game, repeating as Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. Bueckers, who is from Edina, Minnesota, is averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds this season. [60] Bueckers was drawn to UConn because she felt that head coach Geno Auriemma would maximize her talents, and because of the university's reputation and enthusiasm for women's basketball. Paige Bueckers, the reigning national player of the year in womens basketball, had successful surgery on her left knee on Monday, the University of Connecticut announced on Tuesday. 1 Ineligible for series points. [102], Bueckers made her season debut on November 14, 2021, recording a career-high 34 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 9580 win against Arkansas. The Slam magazine video", "AAU final wrap-up: Recounting the summer that was", "Best of the Prelims: North Tartan EYBL slips past Metro Stars", "AAU Awards: 2019 Player of the Year Paige Bueckers", "Father of UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers supports daughter through 'peaks and valleys', "UConn recruit Paige Bueckers dazzling, and indulging, Minnesota fans amid unprecedented attention", "Minnesota high school sports abruptly canceled, 'devastating' those involved", "Hopkins basketball star Paige Bueckers honored as McDonald's All-American", "Jordan Brand Classic lands in Chicago; no stub for Diamond Johnson of Neumann-Goretti (PA) named to girls' roster", "High school basketball state tournaments, postseason showcases canceled amid coronavirus concerns", "Extending the Season: Paige Bueckers one win shy of storybook ending", "One for all time: Hopkins' Paige Bueckers is first-ever three-time Metro Player of the Year winner", "UConn commit Paige Bueckers wins Gatorade Player of the Year award", "UConn-bound Paige Bueckers named Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year", "UConn signee Paige Bueckers named Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year", "Paige Bueckers adds Miss Minnesota Basketball to senior season honors", "Incomparable Paige Bueckers 'enjoyed every second' of final run with Hopkins", "Minnesota prep hoops legend Paige Bueckers set to face Gophers in Bahamas", "Hopkins' Paige Bueckers dazzling, inspiring a generation of girls", "Paige Bueckers 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile", "UConn lands No. [130], In October 2018, Bueckers won a gold medal for the United States in 3x3 basketball at the Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, helping her team win all seven of its games. Hoya guard Kennedy Fauntleroy was named the Big East Freshman of the Year on Thursday as she led all conference freshmen with 11.3 points per game. [12], In seventh grade, Bueckers played for the tenth-grade and junior varsity basketball teams at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka. [167] On September 19, she announced a deal with Bose. The first was with footwear and apparel marketplace StockX, specifically for the company's basketball and women's sports lines. [108] The team's winning streaks of 240 games against unranked teams and 169 games against conference opponents ended in losses to Georgia Tech and Villanova, respectively. She has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series and was a 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. So shes run the gamut., You can tell she has a lot more higher spirits, jumping around a lot more, getting on everyones nerves more, Azzi Fudd joked. [16] She joined Hopkins' varsity team in eighth grade under head coach Brian Cosgriff, averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Shes a pain in the ass to have on the bench because all she does is complain about why shes not playing, he said. Her strong play helped propel UConn to the Final Four, but it wasnt enough to defeat Arizona. Unless, of course, her Century volleyball team finishes as state champion, which she acknowledges is a long shot. 6 Louisville on Sunday and a rematch at No. At Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN and received national high school player of the year honors. Paige Decker - 2017-18 - Women's Basketball - Southern Connecticut State University Athletics Southern Connecticut State University Athletics #WeAreSC Main Navigation Menu Sports Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer Swimming & Diving Track & Field Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse Facebook gives people the power to. [66], "I think the most impressive thing about Paige is that she plays at the same pace the entire game. Bueckers set the UConn freshman record for assists with a total of 168 and also set the school's single-game assist record with 14 against Butler on Feb. 27, 2021. UConn has been an established powerhouse for a long while now with 11 national championships, but until earlier this year, the Huskies hadn't reached the title game since 2016. All Rights Reserved. She underwent surgery on Dec. 13 and has missed the Huskies last 12 games. Bueckers went down with 38.5 seconds left in UConns 73-54 win over Notre Dame on Sunday. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Bueckers sophomore year got off to a strong start, though was derailed in December after she sustained a non-contact knee injury that required surgery. [45][46][47] She averaged 21.4 points, 9.4 assists, 5.4 steals and five rebounds per game, leading Hopkins to another undefeated season and 62 consecutive wins. [99] Bueckers entered her sophomore season as a unanimous selection for both Big East Preseason Player of the Year and the AP preseason All-America team. [5] She joined the TUNDRA Super Late Model Tour in 2013. on Saturday in Newark. [100][101] Among the newcomers to UConn was Azzi Fudd, the number one recruit in the 2021 class and Bueckers' close friend. [61][62] Unlike Stewart and other former UConn stars, she became her team's leader from the beginning of her college career. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. She has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series and was a 2014 NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant. Going into their final game of the season, the Huskies are looking for their fifth consecutive win. Decker returned in 2016, with her sister Claire Decker, and her cousin Natalie Decker competing in the Martinsville race. I kind of had a premonition that that first quarter was going to go the way it did. UConn (6-2), which is tied with Tennessee at No. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. She broke down as she accepted it in front of her teammates. [153] Described as the "face of NIL" for women's basketball by The Athletic,[154] industry analysts have projected her as having one of the highest earning potentials from NIL among college athletes, because of both her success in basketball and her large social media following. The 5-foot-11 guard was a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school, and she lived up to the hype as a freshman in 2020-21. 7 UConn routs St. John's 93-38", "UConn loses to Georgia Tech without Paige Bueckers, snapping 240-game winning streak vs. unranked teams", "169-game win streak snapped: UConn drops first conference matchup since 2013 in loss to Villanova", "Paige Bueckers, 'so happy' to be back after 19-game absence, helps UConn roll to victory in return", "Bueckers remains UConn's biggest question for NCAA Tourney", "Why this Big East title feels different for UConn women's basketball team: 'Just so proud', "Women's NCAA tournament 2022: Can UConn Huskies win it all without Paige Bueckers at 100%? No. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). [6] She attempted her first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race driving the No. Teammates gather around Connecticut's Paige Bueckers in their game against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. Going into their final game of the season, the Huskies are looking for their fifth consecutive win. [147] Bueckers has another younger brother, Ryan, and a younger sister, Lauren. [5][21], Bueckers made her freshman season debut for Hopkins High School on November 25, 2016, recording 28 points, five steals and four assists in a 7434 win over Osseo Senior High School. [59] She became the 11th number-one recruit to sign and attend UConn since 1998. She makes the game slow down for her. Paige Bueckers' freshman season at UConn has been a huge success. [5], Bueckers has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement, in part because her brother, Drew, whom she has described as her best friend,[149] is biracial. I decided to stay in the locker room and save everybody the heartache or not give everybody a chance to [celebrate].. She'd already been playing for a couple of years, often teaming with kids older than her, and maxing out her rec. I mean, that could happen anytime. There would be a time, coach Geno Auriemma said, when the most talented player in the . The Huskies are already shorthanded with Aubrey Griffin (ankle, leg, back) and Azzi Fudd (foot) out. "[56], Bueckers was a five-star recruit and ranked the number one player in the 2020 class by ESPN. 20 Providence. Evina Westbrook and Amari DeBerry carried her to the bench, and she was helped through the handshake line by team trainer Janelle Francisco and another member of the staff. The Huskies earn their first lopsided win in over a month. In fact, UConn should have everyone except Bueckers available to play including Caroline Ducharme, who took a shot to the head late in the win over Creighton and didnt return for just the second time since November. Join Facebook to connect with Paige Decker and others you may know. Decker, Paige Dunbar, Ashley Ferrara, Janelle Gahm, Abby Graham, Rachelle Haddad, Jamie Kennedy, Aurora Kennedy, Lynn Leonoff, Jaimie Mandl, Hanna Marchin, Taylor Martini, Kate McGauley, Patricia Mock, Stephanie Murray, Madi Raines, Jackie Staenz, Phoebe Tarrant, Gretchen Tomimoto, Tara Yip-Chuck, Krista Go 74 Chevrolet for owner/driver Mike Harmon, but was one of four teams that failed to qualify. Griffin, a 6-foot-1 forward, dealt with a handful of injuries and missed all of last season, undergoing back surgery in January. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill). I dont think youre going to get a different answer out of me. Sports. Her pull-up jump shot has been described as her signature move,[141][142] and she is a skilled mid-range shooter. Two players, Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean, are transferring, leaving UConn with eight healthy players. Thats crazy to think about, all the great college players who ever played, Bueckers said. 20 Providence. UConn's first loss came at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas last November, a 73-57 result in favor of South Carolina. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill). UConn womens basketball blows out Georgetown in Big East Tournament Quarterfinals. [78] She was recognized as MOP of the River Walk Regional. She returned later in the season and averaged 14.6 points, four rebounds and 3.9 assists en route to leading UConn to the national championship game. 1 UConn in Final Four", "UConn women's basketball's Paige Bueckers wins Wooden Award, sweeps all national player of the year awards for which she was eligible", "UConn freshman Paige Bueckers leads women's AP All-America team", "USBWA names 202021 Women's All-America Team", United States Basketball Writers Association, "Bueckers Tabbed to WBCA Coaches' All-America Team", "Bueckers Named Nancy Lieberman Award Winner", "USBWA Names Tamika Catchings Award, Coach of the Year Winners", "UConn's Bueckers, Iowa's Clark named 2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Co-Freshmen of the Year presented by adidas", "Paige Bueckers' sensational freshman season comes to a close in women's Final Four", "Freshman phenom: How UConn's Paige Bueckers' 202021 season stacks up against the all-time greats", "Paige Bueckers wins ESPY Award, advocates for Black female athletes", "The Ludicrous, Unprecedented Greatness of Paige Bueckers", "UConn questions: Paige Bueckers' development, newcomers adapting, managing crowded roster", "Bueckers can pass off the court as well", "UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers undergoes right ankle surgery", "Paige Bueckers 'really excited' about UConn's direction heading into 202122 season", "Loaded UConn women push for program's 12th national title", "Bueckers Is Unanimous Choice For Big East Preseason Player of the Year", "UConn Huskies' Paige Bueckers tops AP's preseason All-America team", "The Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd era at UConn is about to arrive and the rest of the college basketball world ought to watch out", "UConn women's basketball downs Arkansas, 9580", "What we learned from UConn's win over Arkansas: Bueckers leads, defensive holes, bench play", "Paige Bueckers scores career-high 34 points as UConn women's basketball opens with win over Arkansas", "UConn's Paige Bueckers out 68 weeks with fracture", "UConn women's star Paige Bueckers out eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery on left knee", "Bueckers returns as No. [115] In the Final Four, Bueckers recorded 14 points, five assists and four rebounds in a 6358 victory against top-seeded Stanford, the defending champions. Auriemma explained postgame why he didnt put her on the bench. [128] Bueckers was named Most Valuable Player and made the All-Tournament Team. [73] On February 27, Bueckers posted 20 points, a program-record 14 assists and seven rebounds in a 9768 victory over Butler. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [58] On November 13, Bueckers signed a National Letter of Intent with UConn. 9 UConn vs Georgetown. Market data provided by Factset. However, Bueckers' injuries have led to a lot of what ifs for her and her team. Were all devastated for Paige, head coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. The Gamecocks dominated from the beginning, though, and took the trophy with a 64-49 win. [53] Bueckers finished as Hopkins' all-time leader in points (2,877), assists (795) and steals (574). Nevertheless, it was a good learning experience for UConn. [163] The second deal was with Gatorade, who signed her as its first college athlete. [91] In July 2021, she won the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award. Schedule Baseball: Roster Baseball: News Basketball Basketball: Twitter Basketball: Instagram Basketball: Schedule Basketball: . [89] As a freshman, she averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, shooting 46.4 percent from three-point range. Getting to the Final Four my freshman year and the national championship last year, the only thing left to do is win it. Paige Decker (born March 20, 1993)[1] is an American professional stock car racing driver from Eagle River, Wisconsin. "Provided we don't have to navigate a season like we did this year knock on wood if we stay healthy, I expect to be back here next year.". [5][6][7] Bueckers became friends with future National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jalen Suggs while in elementary school. [49] She was named Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year,[18] Gatorade National Player of the Year,[50] Naismith Prep Player of the Year,[51] Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year,[52] and Minnesota Miss Basketball. The women's college basketball world took a loss before the season even began. [7] She qualified 33rd fastest, about 1/10 second behind the 32nd final spot. [155][156][157] On April 4, 2022, her Instagram account reached one million followers,[158] making her reportedly the first women's college basketball player to achieve the mark. [2] She returned to college in 2015 while continuing to race super late models. 5 . Claire and Paige qualified for the race, while Natalie was sent home. She also ranks third in the Big East with 2.5 steals per game. After signing with Wasserman Media Group in August in the wake of the N.C.A.A. She also had the most steals (55) and assists (116) on the team last season. Whos done more than her? 2021 - All-Conference, Indoor: Triple Jump (8th place). It took her a few weeks to get back to the level she was at before. But yeah, I dont like our team without her on the court. UConn star Paige Bueckers suffered a torn ACL and is expected to be out for the entire 2022-23 season. UConn is 51-6 all-time over Georgetown. She had surgery on Dec 13 and returned to practice last week. Bueckers missed 19 games before returning in late February. [148], She has hosted a charity basketball clinic called "Buckets with Bueckers" for young athletes in Minnesota and Montana. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [65][91][93][94], Bueckers was named to the university's dean's list her freshman year, which required a GPA of at least 3.72, and was involved in social justice causes. With Bueckers joining them, UConn has just four healthy guards left: Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook, Nika Mhl and Caroline Ducharme.
