[56][57] By eighth grade and age 14, she had received scholarship offers from NCAA Division I basketball programs at Minnesota, Iowa State and Illinois. UConn has been an established powerhouse for a long while now with 11 national championships, but until earlier this year, the Huskies hadn't reached the title game since 2016. Decker was named as a NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver in 2014. Getting to the Final Four my freshman year and the national championship last year, the only thing left to do is win it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Two players, Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean, are transferring, leaving UConn with eight healthy players. UConn star Paige Bueckers appeared to suffer a scary non-contact injury on Sunday during the Huskies win over Notre Dame. 7 in the Associated Press poll, has 16 games before Feb. 9, including dates with No. Bueckers first turned heads with the Huskies as a freshman during the 2020-21 season, in which she averaged 20 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists over 29 games. Bueckers registered 14 points and six rebounds against the Gamecocks, but she was the only UConn player to finish in double figures. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. [61][62] Unlike Stewart and other former UConn stars, she became her team's leader from the beginning of her college career. She returned later in the season and averaged 14.6 points, four rebounds and 3.9 assists en route to leading UConn to the national championship game. [3][4] As a child, she also played Little League Baseball as a catcher, as well as football and soccer, but focused on basketball by first grade. An MRI and CT scans revealed that she suffered a tibial plateau fracture with an estimated recovery period of six to eight weeks. [12], In seventh grade, Bueckers played for the tenth-grade and junior varsity basketball teams at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka. UConn's only other loss that season came to No. The surgery at UConn Health repaired the anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear that Bueckers, a 5-foot-11 sophomore at UConn, sustained in the teams home game on Dec. 5 against Notre Dame. She never wants to come out. [161] She was also the inaugural winner of the Best NIL Athlete of the Year award by Sports Business Journal. Bueckers only had four points in the first half, but she ended the night with a game-high 27 points -- with 15 of those coming after regulation. [87] Bueckers shared two major NCAA Division I freshman of the year awards with Caitlin Clark of Iowathe Tamika Catchings Award, presented by the USBWA,[88] and the WBCA Freshman of the Year award. The first was with footwear and apparel marketplace StockX, specifically for the company's basketball and women's sports lines. Getty Images Former UConn greats Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart both won the award as sophomores. [78] She was recognized as MOP of the River Walk Regional. The Gamecocks dominated from the beginning, though, and took the trophy with a 64-49 win. 2 at the time, grabbed a 73-54 victory against No. "I like our chances," Auriemma said after the game. I decided to stay in the locker room and save everybody the heartache or not give everybody a chance to [celebrate].. Were all devastated for Paige, head coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. Now when Paige and the rest of our players do come back, theres more people in the party instead of outside hoping to get in and feel like they belong here and can contribute not just when have to, but theyll be able to contribute as part of the natural flow of our offense., UConns Paige Bueckers to Miss at Least Eight Weeks After Surgery, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/15/sports/ncaabasketball/paige-bueckers-uconn-surgery.html. [3], Decker raced in asphalt short tracks in Wisconsin and gradually branched out to other tracks in the Midwestern United States. [103] She matched the program record for points in a season opener set by Kerry Bascom in 1989. competed in sixmeets with 11top 10 finishes. 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The Slam magazine video", "AAU final wrap-up: Recounting the summer that was", "Best of the Prelims: North Tartan EYBL slips past Metro Stars", "AAU Awards: 2019 Player of the Year Paige Bueckers", "Father of UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers supports daughter through 'peaks and valleys', "UConn recruit Paige Bueckers dazzling, and indulging, Minnesota fans amid unprecedented attention", "Minnesota high school sports abruptly canceled, 'devastating' those involved", "Hopkins basketball star Paige Bueckers honored as McDonald's All-American", "Jordan Brand Classic lands in Chicago; no stub for Diamond Johnson of Neumann-Goretti (PA) named to girls' roster", "High school basketball state tournaments, postseason showcases canceled amid coronavirus concerns", "Extending the Season: Paige Bueckers one win shy of storybook ending", "One for all time: Hopkins' Paige Bueckers is first-ever three-time Metro Player of the Year winner", "UConn commit Paige Bueckers wins Gatorade Player of the Year award", "UConn-bound Paige Bueckers named Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year", "UConn signee Paige Bueckers named Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year", "Paige Bueckers adds Miss Minnesota Basketball to senior season honors", "Incomparable Paige Bueckers 'enjoyed every second' of final run with Hopkins", "Minnesota prep hoops legend Paige Bueckers set to face Gophers in Bahamas", "Hopkins' Paige Bueckers dazzling, inspiring a generation of girls", "Paige Bueckers 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile", "UConn lands No. Eventually, the Huskies were able to adjust as senior guard Christyn Williams stepped up as the leading scorer. Bueckers had her sights set on a national championship this coming season, telling Bleacher Report that it was the only thing that would make it a success. Schedule Baseball: Roster Baseball: News Basketball Basketball: Twitter Basketball: Instagram Basketball: Schedule Basketball: . [147] Bueckers has another younger brother, Ryan, and a younger sister, Lauren. Paige Bueckers out 6-8 weeks with tibial plateau fracture in left knee, UConn WBB Weekly: Geno is tired of excuses. Griffin, a 6-foot-1 forward, dealt with a handful of injuries and missed all of last season, undergoing back surgery in January. [85][86] She was the first freshman to win the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation. She became the first UConn player ever to score 30 or more points in three consecutive games and also set the school record for points in her NCAA debut when she had 24 in the opener against High Point. 74 Chevrolet for owner/driver Mike Harmon, but was one of four teams that failed to qualify. [173], "Bueckers" redirects here. 25 Tennessee", "Paige Bueckers to miss UConn women's game vs. Georgetown with ankle injury; Anna Makurat out indefinitely", "Paige Bueckers' career-high 32 points carry UConn women over St. John's with Christyn Williams sidelined", "Bueckers Scores 30 and Williams Adds 18 as Huskies Win at Marquette, 8758", "Paige Bueckers takes over to deliver No. Decker is the daughter of Allen Decker who comes from a family of snowmobile racing riders. Odds & lines subject to change. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 7 UConn routs St. John's 93-38", "UConn loses to Georgia Tech without Paige Bueckers, snapping 240-game winning streak vs. unranked teams", "169-game win streak snapped: UConn drops first conference matchup since 2013 in loss to Villanova", "Paige Bueckers, 'so happy' to be back after 19-game absence, helps UConn roll to victory in return", "Bueckers remains UConn's biggest question for NCAA Tourney", "Why this Big East title feels different for UConn women's basketball team: 'Just so proud', "Women's NCAA tournament 2022: Can UConn Huskies win it all without Paige Bueckers at 100%? [26] She finished the season averaging 22.3 points, 6.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. She was a Youth Olympic gold medalist in 3x3 basketball and has played for the senior national 3x3 team. Paige Decker | #21 | G | So. Bueckers sophomore year got off to a strong start, though was derailed in December after she sustained a non-contact knee injury that required surgery. "Its time we stopped blaming the injuries, stop blaming fatigue, stop blaming tired," Auriemma said after UConn beat Xavier by nine. [111] Bueckers continued to receive limited playing time until the NCAA tournament,[112] and UConn won the Big East tournament despite her scoring only two points in the championship game against Villanova. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. [66], "I think the most impressive thing about Paige is that she plays at the same pace the entire game. At Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bueckers was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN and received national high school player of the year honors. To get a reward and find something positive in these times, you cherish them. [58], Entering her freshman season at UConn, sports publications described Bueckers as the program's most hyped recruit since Breanna Stewart in 2012. This leaves the Huskies with plenty of uncertainty and gaps to fill. [104][105] On December 5, Bueckers injured her left knee while dribbling the ball up the court with 40 seconds remaining in a 7354 victory over Notre Dame, and had to be carried off the floor by teammates. Join Facebook to connect with Paige Decker and others you may know. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. . Now, the coach will have to find a way to cope without his go-to player. 9 UConn vs Georgetown. Decker, Paige Dunbar, Ashley Ferrara, Janelle Gahm, Abby Graham, Rachelle Haddad, Jamie Kennedy, Aurora Kennedy, Lynn Leonoff, Jaimie Mandl, Hanna Marchin, Taylor Martini, Kate McGauley, Patricia Mock, Stephanie Murray, Madi Raines, Jackie Staenz, Phoebe Tarrant, Gretchen Tomimoto, Tara Yip-Chuck, Krista Go The Huskies clearly needed to regroup after that, as they took a 57-44 loss to Georgia Tech in their first game without Bueckers. [5][11] She grew up supporting the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. Connecticut - Northeast 10 Athletics Paige Decker #21 G So. It can happen anytime. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She also has a deal with the global sneaker and streetwear reseller StockX. Her strong play helped propel UConn to the Final Four, but it wasnt enough to defeat Arizona. [6][2] She had been attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout (pursuing a degree in early childhood education)[6] for two years but had to quit to race in the Southern United States for the season. I mean, I might have to like it if she misses any time, but I dont like the way it looks when shes not on the floor.. 6-keys: media/spln/ncaawbasketball/reg/free/stories, at [3] The Decker family raced snowmobiles against the Danica Patrick family during the 1970s. After missing the last two games due to a foot issue, Dorka Juhsz will play on Sunday against Tennessee, according to Auriemma. ", "Paige Bueckers steps up as UConn hangs on, beats NC State in two OTs to advance to 14th straight Final Four", "Paige Bueckers and UConn top Stanford, 63-58, in a Final Four slugfest", "Bueckers Says She Will Play Through the Pain Against South Carolina", "Bueckers can't do it all as UConn comes up short for title", "UConn's Paige Bueckers named All-Tournament First Team", "AP All-America team includes milestone for Kentucky's Howard", "UConn Huskies women's basketball star Paige Bueckers to miss 2022-23 season after tearing ACL", "Injured UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers to bypass early WNBA draft entry, return to Huskies for 2023-24 season", "Paige Bueckers embraces job as 'coach' while sitting out UConn season", "Paige Bueckers player profile 2017 FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship", "Haley Jones, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd installed as top women's basketball prospects", "Hopkins' Paige Bueckers is MVP of U19 World Cup", "Bueckers crowned TISSOT MVP to headline All-Star Five", "2019 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year", "Paige Bueckers Stays Humble Even as a National Champion and Youth Olympian", "Mission Accomplished: Team USA Wins Second Consecutive Women's Basketball Gold Medal At Youth Olympic Games", "USA Basketball announces 33 roster for World Beach Games", "ANOC World Beach Games: Team USA 3x3 falls to Brazil in quarterfinals", "Former UConn phenom Diana Taurasi says freshman Paige Bueckers 'best player' in women's basketball", "Paige Bueckers is living up to the hype and rewriting the UConn record books", "UConn's Paige Bueckers: 'I've always been a pass-first player,' will try harder to shoot more", "Why UConn women's freshman Paige Bueckers could be the national player of the year", "Trying 'to be more aggressive,' Paige Bueckers keys a dominant UConn win over High Point in opening round", "Now you see why Paige is all the rage at UConn", "UConn WBB's Paige Bueckers opens NCAA Tournament with historic performance", "How Connecticut freshman Paige Bueckers is breaking college basketball", "How Paige Bueckers' freshman season compares to other all-time greats", "Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma are chuckling through the early stages of their UConn basketball relationship", "Paige Bueckers drawing confidence from God as she leads No. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. She scored a game-high 27 points on 10-15 from the field, including 15 points in the two overtime periods (4-5 from the field and 6-6 from the free-throw line), and was named MOP of the Bridgeport Regional. Bueckers finally looked like her old self during UConn's Elite Eight game against NC State. All Rights Reserved. Injured UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers participated in pregame warm-ups and drills with her teammates Wednesday night at the XL Center. list of mortuary science schools in kenya. She'd already been playing for a couple of years, often teaming with kids older than her, and maxing out her rec. Every time somebody is out, that gives somebody an opportunity to step in, Huskies Coach Geno Auriemma said. She only just returned to practice on Friday and is still working her way back into the mix. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: ncaawbasketball | pageType: stories | Other players working on recovery this offseason are Dorka Juhsz (wrist), Caroline Ducharme (hip) and Aubrey Griffin (back). competed in sixmeets with nine top 10 finishes. Bueckers is having that same impact on a new generation of girls. UCONN STAR PAIGE BUECKERS INKS GATORADE NIL DEAL, Connecticut's Paige Bueckers is helped off the court after being injured against Notre Dame, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Storrs, Connecticut. The women's college basketball world took a loss before the season even began. Bueckers ended her sophomore campaign with averages of 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 54.4% from the field in 17 games. She went through that period where she was resigned to it and then angry about it and then frustrated about it and then down about it, and came out on the other side stronger for it and more determined than ever, Auriemma said. Bueckers missed 19 games before returning in late February. She was named most outstanding player (MOP) of the tournament. In March 2021, analyst Monica McNutt touted Bueckers as "arguably one of the best playmakers in the game". The university said her recovery was estimated to take eight weeks, which would mean the week of Feb. 7. [121], In addition to her athletic honors, Bueckers was again named to the university's dean's list for her first semester as a sophomore. In seven games, she averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game, leading the tournament in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.13. UConn will likely not cruise through next season, but Auriemma's record speaks for itself, so the Huskies shouldn't be counted out any time soon. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill). (AP Photo/Jessica Hill). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ET, FOX. Chasing Perfection: Is it time to be worried about UConn? [168] On November 28, Bueckers and her college teammate, Azzi Fudd, announced that they had signed deals with Nerf. She started 29 games and averaged 20 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting 52.4% from the field and 46.4% from 3-point range. Paige Bueckers meeting with doctors to determine next steps in recovery, UConn WBB Weekly: Geno is tired of excuses. Going into their final game of the season, the Huskies are looking for their fifth consecutive win. Bueckers was an overwhelming choice, receiving 21 votes from the 30-member national media panel that chooses the weeklyAP Top 25. Paige Decker - 2017-18 - Women's Basketball - Southern Connecticut State University Athletics Southern Connecticut State University Athletics #WeAreSC Main Navigation Menu Sports Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Soccer Swimming & Diving Track & Field Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse To get this award, Im extremely humbled and grateful.. She worked out yesterday and said she felt good. Claire and Paige qualified for the race, while Natalie was sent home. I'm always surprised when she shoots and it doesn't go in. Check out Paige Decker's high school sports timeline including game updates while playing basketball at Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot High School from 2022 through this year. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. UConn womens basketball star Paige Bueckers is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in her left knee during Sundays win over Notre Dame. UConn was up 18 points with about 39 seconds remaining in the game when her leg appeared to buckle while she was bringing up the ball. 2 team in the nation and improved to 5-1 with the win over No. But (the meeting is to figure out) when can she start being incorporated into some kind of workouts.. We've received your submission. Dana Evans of Louisville was second with four votes. The UConn women's basketball team was dealt a sizable blow on Wednesday. [5], Bueckers has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement, in part because her brother, Drew, whom she has described as her best friend,[149] is biracial. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. ", "Hopkins 8th grader Paige Bueckers attracts attention from colleges and Lynx coach", "Timeout!