It is the end of an era in Storrs, Connecticut. Paige Bueckers confirmed to a fellow Connecticut Huskies legend that her next chapter of her career and journey will be written with the WNBA’s bold ink.
According to ESPN analyst, Hall of Famer and fellow former Storrs star Rebecca Lobo, Bueckers confirmed that she will enter the WNBA after her final national championship run with the Huskies wraps up. Lobo, who was the leader for their first national title back in 1995, is set to be on the call when the second-seeded Huskies (33-3) play in regional semifinal action against No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners at the bottom of the Spokane 4 bracket on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
There was some chatter and speculation Bueckers, 23, would withdraw her name from draft consideration and instead make her professional debut in season two of Unrivaled, the three-on-three league co-founded by UConn alumnae and future WNBA competitors Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Bueckers previously signed an NIL with the league, which recently wrapped up its first season in Miami earlier this month.
But it appears that Bueckers will go for w’s in the W, which will hold its annual draft on April 14 in Manhattan. The Dallas Wings, who previously selected another UConn representative, Lou Lopez Senechal, with the fifth overall pick in 2023, hold the first pick after jumping over the Los Angeles Sparks at November’s draft lottery.
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For the time being, however, Bueckers’ focus continues to linger solely on collegiate affairs.
“There’s a lot of pressures that can come with it,” Bueckers said in a discussion with Natasha Dye of People. “Win or go home. It’s my last one ever. There really is no do-overs, so just trying not to think about that and really just playing with passion, joy and to have fun.”
Bueckers is seemingly destined to go out with a bang as the Huskies seek their first national championship since 2016. They have eleven overall. She did not need to do much in last weekend’s opening round victory over Arkansas State, but she helped the Huskies overcome an early deficit by tying her career-high with 34 points in a 91-57 rout against South Dakota State.
