STORRS, Conn. — UConn star Paige Bueckers and coach Geno Auriemma each say they might be back at the college next season.
A senior academically, Bueckers made the announcement during senior night ceremonies at Gampel Pavilion following the team’s 85-44 win over Georgetown on Friday night.
Telling the group she desired to “address the elephant within the room,” Bueckers said, “Unfortunately, it will not be my last yr.”
Her coach followed that announcement by ending any speculation that he might retire at season’s end.
during senior night ceremonies after the team’s NCAA college
basketball game against Georgetown. AP
He joked to reporters that he was planning to come back back next yr as well, “until Paige announced that she’s coming back.”
He then added, “Yeah, I’ll be back.”
Bueckers was named national player of the yr as a freshman, spending that season playing in front of cardboard cutouts through the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the Huskies to the national semifinals where they lost to Arizona.
She spent most of her sophomore yr on the bench with tibia plateau fracture in her left knee, but got here back in time to steer the Huskies to the national championship game, where they lost to South Carolina.
She suffered a torn ACL in that very same knee before last season and was out all the yr.
Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika Muhl and Aubrey Griffin were all honored Friday.
Griffin, who tore an ACL last month, also announced she might be back next season. She is one in all five Huskies out for the remainder of the season with injuries.
The others — Azzi Fudd, Jana El-Alfy, Caroline Ducharme and Annaya Patterson — all are expected back.
Edwards and Muhl didn’t announce their plans, but each said, “We’re not done yet.”
Bueckers has two years of eligibility remaining.
Edwards, Muhl and Griffin each have one.
But each Edwards and Bueckers have been projected as high first-round picks should they enter the WNBA draft.
As international players, Muhl (Croatia) and Edwards (Canada) even have not been in a position to make the NIL money that has been flowing to their teammates while in college.
Auriemma said he can be surprised if Muhl or Edwards returned for an additional yr.
Auriemma said he wasn’t certain Bueckers can be back, until she announced it to the group.
“I never pressed her on it either,” he said.
Bueckers said Thursday that she will not be giving up on winning a national championship this season, despite five decisive losses to top teams — North Carolina State, UCLA, Texas, Notre Dame and South Carolina.
UConn has just 4 regular-season games remaining including games at home against Creighton on Monday in Hartford and Villanova on Feb. 28 at Gampel.
STORRS, Conn. — UConn star Paige Bueckers and coach Geno Auriemma each say they might be back at the college next season.
A senior academically, Bueckers made the announcement during senior night ceremonies at Gampel Pavilion following the team’s 85-44 win over Georgetown on Friday night.
Telling the group she desired to “address the elephant within the room,” Bueckers said, “Unfortunately, it will not be my last yr.”
Her coach followed that announcement by ending any speculation that he might retire at season’s end.
during senior night ceremonies after the team’s NCAA college
basketball game against Georgetown. AP
He joked to reporters that he was planning to come back back next yr as well, “until Paige announced that she’s coming back.”
He then added, “Yeah, I’ll be back.”
Bueckers was named national player of the yr as a freshman, spending that season playing in front of cardboard cutouts through the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the Huskies to the national semifinals where they lost to Arizona.
She spent most of her sophomore yr on the bench with tibia plateau fracture in her left knee, but got here back in time to steer the Huskies to the national championship game, where they lost to South Carolina.
She suffered a torn ACL in that very same knee before last season and was out all the yr.
Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika Muhl and Aubrey Griffin were all honored Friday.
Griffin, who tore an ACL last month, also announced she might be back next season. She is one in all five Huskies out for the remainder of the season with injuries.
The others — Azzi Fudd, Jana El-Alfy, Caroline Ducharme and Annaya Patterson — all are expected back.
Edwards and Muhl didn’t announce their plans, but each said, “We’re not done yet.”
Bueckers has two years of eligibility remaining.
Edwards, Muhl and Griffin each have one.
But each Edwards and Bueckers have been projected as high first-round picks should they enter the WNBA draft.
As international players, Muhl (Croatia) and Edwards (Canada) even have not been in a position to make the NIL money that has been flowing to their teammates while in college.
Auriemma said he can be surprised if Muhl or Edwards returned for an additional yr.
Auriemma said he wasn’t certain Bueckers can be back, until she announced it to the group.
“I never pressed her on it either,” he said.
Bueckers said Thursday that she will not be giving up on winning a national championship this season, despite five decisive losses to top teams — North Carolina State, UCLA, Texas, Notre Dame and South Carolina.
UConn has just 4 regular-season games remaining including games at home against Creighton on Monday in Hartford and Villanova on Feb. 28 at Gampel.
