Geno Auriemma shares what he told Paige Bueckers in emotional hug
Paige Bueckers, the star player for the UConn Huskies, has finally achieved her ultimate goal of becoming a champion. After making it to each Final Four during her illustrious career but falling short of the title, Bueckers led her team to a 82-59 victory over the reigning champion South Carolina Gamecocks to secure UConn’s 12th national title.
This victory marks UConn’s first championship since 2015, ending their longest drought since winning their first title in 1995. Bueckers, with a career average of 19.9 points per game, the highest in UConn history, has overcome obstacles along the way. In 2022, she tore her ACL, forcing her to miss an entire season. Prior to the injury, she was part of the only UConn team to lose a national title game.
In Sunday’s championship game, Bueckers scored 17 points, leading her team to victory and finally achieving her dream. As the final buzzer sounded, she shared an emotional hug with head coach Geno Auriemma, who simply told her, “I love you.”
When asked what she said back to her coach, Bueckers joked, “I told him I hate him.” Despite the ups and downs of her career, Bueckers has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players in UConn history. She also holds the record for the most points scored in March Madness throughout a career, ranking third all-time.
As Bueckers celebrates her well-deserved championship win, fans and teammates alike are in awe of her talent and resilience. With this victory, she has solidified her place in UConn basketball history and will be remembered as a true champion.
