“Can’t wait to hoop with you”: Paige Bueckers posts sweet collage for “pookie wookie” Aubrey Griffin
Aubrey Griffin celebrated her 23rd birthday on Wednesday and Paige Bueckers was one of the many to wish the guard. Bueckers first shared a collage of the two on her Instagram story with the caption:
"Happy birthday to my pookie wookie aubdawg🫶🏽"
She then shared a picture of her chest bumping Griffin and wrote:
"I can’t wait to hoop with you again. Love you always fam."
Aubrey Griffin was sidelined last season with an ACL tear while Paige Bueckers led the Huskies to the Final Four. The graduate senior is reported to return for this season, however, a timeline has not been given yet.
With this being her final season with the UConn Huskies, Paige Bueckers said she feels a certain sense of urgency to win the NCAA championship. In an interview with SNY's Chelsea Sherrod on Oct. 23, the guard said:
"It's definitely national championship or bust. That's always been the case here at UConn."
However, at the same time, she is also focused on enjoying the process, while not getting lost in the race to win.
"But just not focusing on that, focusing on winning every single day we have in front of us, winning our practice, winning in the weight room, just enjoying each other's company, embracing it, taking no day for granted."
"Every single day I get to wake up, it's one day closer to my career being over. It's crazy when you put it that way, which makes you want to enjoy it, embrace it, and have a whole bunch of fun."
Paige Bueckers discusses the huge expectations on her as a player
Paige Bueckers came into UConn with heavy expectations. After the iconic four-year Breanna Stewart era, the Huskies hit a slump and Bueckers was set to be the reckoning.
However, the guard's stay at Storrs has been interrupted by back-to-back injuries to herself and the roster. With this being her final season, the expectations are heavy on Bueckers to finally deliver.
In an interview with former Huskies player, Rebecca Lobo, Bueckers spoke on navigating challenges.
"It's a blessing. I never wanted to take it for granted," she said. "Obviously, it can end up being pressure, it can end up being this weight you carry, but I feel like pressure is privilege and it's a blessing to be able to be in that position."
Bueckers added that this has always been her childhood dream: to play basketball at the highest level and was happy to be doing it. The UConn Huskies will be playing their first game of the season on Thursday against Boston University.
Also read: “Love you”: Paige Bueckers posts unseen group picture for UConn teammate Ayanna Patterson