Paige Bueckers is in a class by herself in the Big East, becoming the first player to win the most outstanding player of the conference tournament three times.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very cool and hard to do something that鈥檚 never been done at UConn before,鈥� Bueckers said after a 70-50 win over Creighton on Monday night in the conference championship game.
It was the 23rd Big East tournament title for the Huskies, including five straight since they rejoined the conference in 2021.
Now UConn鈥檚 star will try and cap off her illustrious career with an NCAA championship 鈥� a feat that has eluded her.
鈥淵ou work entirely for this moment, to shine in March, to play your best basketball in the most important part of the season,鈥� Bueckers said.
The third-ranked Huskies have been playing their best over the last month. They haven鈥檛 lost since Feb. 6 at Tennessee, winning every game since by at least 19 points, including a 29-point victory at South Carolina.
Bueckers has been a big reason why. The expected No. 1 pick in next month鈥檚 WNBA draft knows her time at the school is coming to a close.
鈥淚t鈥檚 meant everything. It鈥檚 been a dream since I was a kid. It鈥檚 been everything I could dream of,鈥� Bueckers said. 鈥淭he support, the best fans in the country. They travel everywhere. The love and support I feel and this whole team feels, it鈥檚 been a blessing and I can鈥檛 be grateful enough.鈥�
She hopes the team can make a run and win its first NCAA title since 2016, when the Huskies celebrated their fourth straight championship and 11th overall.
鈥淚 think the sense of urgency knowing that for this it鈥檚 one loss and you鈥檙e done,鈥� Bueckers said. 鈥淪ame for this tournament as the next. ... I feel like we鈥檙e heading in the right direction heading into the tournament.鈥�
The Huskies peaking at the right time and, more important, they鈥檙e healthy 鈥� a rare thing during Bueckers鈥� career. After winning the AP Player of the Year award as a freshman, Bueckers had an injury-plagued next two years, missing 19 games as a sophomore and sitting out the entire following season. She returned last year and led the Huskies to the Final Four, where they lost to Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
鈥淭here鈥檚 less wear and tear on her body this season and we were able to rest her, which we weren鈥檛 able to do last year,鈥� coach Geno Auriemma said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a different cast of characters around her than previous years. Every year she鈥檚 been in the tournament we鈥檝e been at a disadvantage missing someone. Sometimes two or three. This is the first time we鈥檙e going into the tournament with most of the key pieces intact. It鈥檚 a great place for us.鈥�
