IN PICS: Paige Bueckers shares latest carousel featuring UConn teammates ahead of new college hoops season
UConn guard Paige Bueckers has always shown her friendly side with teammates off the court. Her latest Instagram snaps will prove it.
On Wednesday, Bueckers posted Media Day photos on the social media site, with center Jana El Alfy, forward Aubrey Griffin and guard Azzi Fudd.
The post also included choice clips of the previous season. Bueckers, who decided not to pursue the WNBA draft this year to stay with the Huskies for a fifth season, looks to surpass her excellent performance in the 2023-24 season.
She played 39 games and averaged an efficient 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game to lead UConn to the Final Four, despite playing with seven healthy players.
The No. 2-ranked UConn Huskies will test their readiness for the 2024-25 campaign in an exhibition game against Fort Hays State. Tip-off is at Sunday noon at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.
Four days later, the Geno Auriemma-coached squad will open its regular season against Boston University at the XL Center in Hartford at 7:00 p.m. ET.
UConn's Paige Bueckers seeks to win national title to cap her farewell tour
Paige Bueckers was selected as First Team All-American by the WBCA, AP, USBWA and Wooden Award last season following a superb season that put UConn a win away from making the national final.
Bueckers is back in Storrs, hoping to lead the Huskies to its first national title since 2016—and 12th overall. Her focus is to accomplish that mission whatever it takes.
Even UConn coach Geno Auriemma has noticed Bueckers' determination during offseason practices.
“She is at practice and she is doing some things at practice that haven’t happened much in the four years that she has been here," he said.
"In the past, she might defer to you or you and I don’t see that happening on the defensive end or on the offensive end. She is just taking on, ‘I don’t want to leave any stone unturned.’”
Teammate Ashylynn Shade noted that Bueckers has been passionate about guiding the Huskies to another national title.
Shade sees it in how the senior guard leads the team during practices, wanting everyone to be locked in and play to the best of their ability.
Paige Bueckers will have five months to fulfill her dream of leading UConn to the promised land on her final college basketball run.