"My fav": UConn star Paige Bueckers reacts to snaps with former Baylor coach Chloe Pavlech after signing NIL deal with Unrivaled
Less than two weeks after Paige Bueckers summarized her visit to Phoenix for the WNBA All-Star event, former Baylor Bears women's basketball assistant coach Chloe Pavlech did the same on her Instagram.
Pavlech posted a series of photos posing alongside her stylists, analyst Andraya Carter, Las Vegas Aces' Sydney Colson and Paige Bueckers, prompting a comment by the UConn Huskies star herself.
"My fav❤," Bueckers commented on the post as Pavlech replied, "day 1🖤."
Paige Bueckers’ stature in women’s basketball makes her accessible to plenty of big names within the sport, as signified by her recent NIL deal with Unrivaled Basketball. However, Chloe Pavlech's connection with Bueckers comes through her two years as an assistant coach for the Huskies (2016-18).
She was interviewed by Geno Auriemma’s assistant head coach Chris Dailey, sparking her induction into the world of coaching. Her day-to-day roles consisted of helping with player development, organizing practice players, recruiting and assisting coaches.
Chloe Pavlech's role came at a time when UConn was looking to alter its culture of hiring male team managers as graduate assistants. Since then, Pavlech and Dailey have cultivated a mentor-mentee bond that continues to this day.
Paige Bueckers makes history by signing a deal with the 3x3 Unrivaled Basketball league
Bueckers’ quest for her lone NCAA title in the 2024-25 season will come with a detour. The potential top pick in the WNBA draft has signed a NIL deal with the upcoming 3x3 league, Unrivaled Basketball, becoming the first college player to do so.
While specific details of her agreement are still unknown, Bueckers is set to receive a guaranteed six-figure contract for her Unrivaled stint alongside a significant percentage of ownership equity in the league.
Founded by Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, the league is set up to continue competitive women's basketball during the WNBA offseason.
The first edition will take place in Miami in January 2025 and end before the WNBA season begins. Alongside the founders and Bueckers, the 30-player tourney will feature 10 big league standouts like Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jewell Loyd, Angel Reese and Arike Ogunbowale.
More additions to the upcoming league will be announced after the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics.