“Paige Bueckers is loving this actress life”: College hoops fans adore UConn star's video with $31.5 billion company
Paige Bueckers is one of the best basketball players in women's college basketball. She added acting to the list of her talents in an ad for Fortnite, a video game giant with a net worth of $31.5 billion.
UConn posted a video on Instagram that showed Bueckers leading Azzi Fudd and two others to sneak into the school's Gampel Pavilion to play Fortnite OG on the arena's large screen. As they played, each woman celebrated after hitting a win. At some point, they all stood up to celebrate, and then the light unexpectedly came on, making them scamper in different directions.
"They think they’re slick 🙄 Caught some of our players sneaking into Gampel to play Fortnite OG on the big screen," the post was captioned.
Fans found the video hilarious and particularly commended Bueckers for her acting skills.
One fan wrote, "Paige is loving this actress life hm."
Another wrote, "I just know this was Paige's idea😂😂😂 love my Uconn wbb girls🥰"
"They are in their actress era I love this so much," a fan commented.
"Paige been in her acting bag lately. 😂," another commented.
Geno Auriemma reveals Paige Bueckers' biggest fear
Paige Bueckers and UConn women's basketball made a flying start to the season, winning their first eight games, including three victories over ranked teams, and were ranked No. 2. However, the Huskies were brought back to earth while losing 79-68 loss at then-No. 8 Notre Dame on Thursday. UConn (9-1) is now ranked No. 4, with the Fighting Irish (9-2) moving to No. 3.
Following the game, Geno Auriemma weighed in on Bueckers' prospects of winning a title in her last season for the Huskies.
"I think it scares her to leave here and be the best player ever to play at UConn without winning a national championship, that it affects your legacy a little bit," he told The Athletic. “I’ve never said that, and I don’t believe that, but I’ve gotta believe she thinks that, that she needs that to validate who she is.
“I don’t believe that that’s the ultimate identifier of what true success is.”
Bueckers is averaging 20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists, leading UConn to a 9-1 record.
Bueckers, who was the National Player of the Year as a freshman in 2020-21, has not won a national title with the Huskies, despite reaching the Final Four twice. However, she has been predicted to be the No. 1 pick for the 2025 WNBA draft, a position that belongs to the Dallas Wings.