Paige Bueckers shares how UConn can cope without Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards
When Paige Bueckers brings uconn-huskies' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>uconn-star-paige-bueckers-wows-fans-dons-huskies-jersey-last-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">the ball up for UConn this year, the absence of Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards will surely be felt. The two were forces on the two ends of the floor and drew significant attention from the opposing teams. However, Bueckers believes that together, the Huskies can replicate the energy Muhl and Edwards brought to the roster.
During Friday's preseason media availability, Bueckers shared details about her increased role for the 2024-25 season. She praised her teammates Sarah Strong, Ice Brady and Jana El Alfy for their IQ, hustle and ability to consistently crash the board.
“She (Sarah) knows how to play and coming in as a freshman I think that's a great thing to have," Paige Bueckers said after UConn's first practice. "She's aggressive, she can pass, she can shoot, so she can score at all three levels; she even rebounds well.
"Jana, obviously missed her. She's just a big presence on defense that we didn't necessarily have last year. She brings us a great ton of energy that I think obviously losing Nika and Aaliyah, we were missing a bit of energy. So I think she'll bring that as well."
Nika Muhl set program records at UConn for career, single-season and single-game assists. On the other hand, Aaliyah Edwards had an overall impact as she finished top-15 in points and top-10 in rebounds and double-doubles.
The two former Huskies won more than 120 games together, alongside multiple Big East regular-season and tournament championships. Edwards was picked sixth by the Washington Mystics in this year’s draft, while Muhl was selected 14th by the Seattle Storm.
UConn believes Paige Bueckers to be a championship player
Paige Bueckers came to the Huskies as the most desired player in the nation. She had one-of-a-kind creativity in her shots and ball handling, a tendency to get hot on offense, the ability to see the floor like no other and a defensive knack. She also brought significant Team USA experience to UConn.
So, when she announced her siding with UConn, Geno Auriemma claimed that it is now the program's job to add complimenting pieces around her.
"I am going to be saying, ‘You know what, we wouldn’t have won the national championship without her [Paige],’" Auriemma said in 2019.
"That is what I am going to say. By herself, she can’t win anything. But with the people I think we are going to surround her with, I think we can do great things."
Paige Bueckers will now enter her last college year after postponing her WNBA entry this season. She is assumed to be the top pick in the 2025 draft.