“Love you”: Paige Bueckers posts unseen group picture for UConn teammate Ayanna Patterson
Paige Bueckers has been quite active on her social media in the last few hours. After sharing ex-FLOTUS Michelle Obama's plea to the nation to vote either Democrat candidate Kamala Harris or Republican candidate Donald Trump as the next President, she shared an Instagram story to celebrate teammate Ayanna Patterson's 21st birthday.
Bueckers shared a few snaps with the Huskies forward, who dons the #34 jersey for UConn. Along with a snap from one of their outings, Bueckers also shared two snaps from their interactions on the court, along with a kind message for Patterson.
"Happy birthday Yanna. BIG 21. Love you @.ayannap," wrote Bueckers.
Ayanna Patterson was the fourth overall-ranked prospect in the Class of 2022 per ESPN, earning McDonald's, SLAM and Jordan Brand All-American honors in her senior season of high school basketball. She was one of the top players for Homestead High, averaging 25.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in her final season of high school basketball before committing to the Huskies.
Patterson saw limited game time in her freshman season(2022-23) at Storrs, averaging 9.6 minutes across 27 appearances. In that season, she averaged 1.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists, while tallying six blocks and six steals.
She missed the 2023-24 season after undergoing surgery on her left knee to fix patellas tendonitis last December. She is a slight doubt to return in time for the Huskies' season opener against the Boston University Terriers on Nov. 7.
Paige Bueckers impresses in exhibition game ahead of the 2024-25 season
Paige Bueckers sent out a strong signal of intent in the Huskies' warmup game against the Fort Hays State Tigers on November 3. In 27 minutes of game time, the reigning Big East Player of the Year scored 27 points and recorded nine rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. She made 12 of 14 field goal attempts and three of four three-pointer attempts in a splendid display of her range.
Entering her final season of college basketball this year, Bueckers is primed to have her best season yet. She is the only player apart from JuJu Watkins to earn a unanimous selection in AP's Preseason All-America Team and was named the Preseason Big East Player of the Year for the upcoming season.
She will look to end her college basketball career with a national championship and simultaneously end the Huskies' nine-year drought before next year's WNBA draft.