“ It’s destiny ”: Paige Bueckers d’Uconn finally wins the national championship to crown the decorated university career

Tampa, Florida – The last day of his university basketball career, Paige Bueckers has become a national champion.

The game was not entirely over when Bueckers, the Uconn star and the n ° 1 choice provided in the WNBA draft, checked the last time. But with the Huskies having a comfortable advance on the South Carolina in the national championship, she knew that was everything. Bueckers buried her face on the shoulder of coach Geno Auriemma and all the emotions she had in bottles all day finally came out in the form of tears.

Auriemma told Bueckers that he loved her and did not drop until it was ready – ready to say goodbye to an incredible five -year trip. A minute and a half later, Uconn won his 12th national championship with a dominant victory of 82-59 against South Carolina.

Bueckers covered his face in the last seconds and revealed a big smile. Her teammates jumped from top to bottom next to her in anticipation, but she tried to stay still. As soon as the final buzzer died, they all ran to the center of the field to celebrate.

His career began with a first historic year but was disrupted by injuries, including a torn LCA which put it aside throughout the 2022-23 season. It was a roller coaster walk with strong expectations to wear, but it was grateful for all this.

“It was a story of resilience, gratitude, adversity, to overcome adversity,” said Bueckers. “… and just a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for everything that happened through the ups and downs, I would not exchange it for the world.”

Bueckers stood on stage, arms raised while confetti was raining on her. A few minutes later, she climbed to the scale to get a piece of the net which finally meant that she joined other large uconn in history books. She was nearly winning a championship in 2022, but South Carolina obtained the best of Huskies that day.

Uconn is the most successful program in the history of women’s basketball, but has not won a national title since 2016. The star of the WNBA, Breanna Stewart, was on this list of Huskies, and she was part of the closed windows in Tampa.

Cutting the net was not just something that Bueckers wanted was something that was planned for this program. Bueckers declares for the draft of the WNBA 2025, which meant that winning a national championship was now or never for her.

“People like to say that choosing Uconn is an easy choice, but I think it is one of the most difficult decisions you can make in your life,” said Bueckers in February.

The pressure to which she referred was in the midst of exposure earlier on Sunday.

Outside Amalie Arena two hours before relaxing, fans were patiently waiting in Florida Heat to see the players walk on the red carpet. Wherever you turned, there were girls wearing the emblematic hairstyle of Bueckers. There were also too many signs to count – including one of an old secondary rival who admitted that Bueckers had “cooked” it in a game and had a photo to prove it.

It was noisy, very strong, but Bueckers was in his own bubble – which seemed silent despite the outside noise. She smiled and fans at height that constantly shouted her name, but it was clear that she was not entirely relaxed. For an important part of this walk on the red carpet, she looked straight or directly, claiming that the cameras were not there.

His face did not say much either during pre-match warming up. She struck her latest half -shot but instead of celebrating, she ran directly in the locker room.

Bueckers had played in many university matches before – 122 to be exact – but there was a significant tension at this particular pre -match routine. Before the national anthem, she headed for the bench and began to remove her jacket, not that her teammates were all aligned with their jackets. It was a small detail, but everything counts when you play for Uconn. The head coach Chris Dailey drew his attention and Bueckers quickly gave it and joined his team.

The match changed and her first shot was Miss.

The crowd was waiting for Bueckers to find its rhythm and completely takes control of the game, but that did not quite happen. Although she ended the day with 17 points, it was not her most dominant game. That being said, she was still one of the best scorers in the Huskies and the energy that made her so special was there 40 minutes.

A bueckers rebound at the end of the third trimester and a fault that she attracted obtained one of the noisiest reactions of the crowd. Auriemma applauded for 10 seconds after this Hustle game. She had several of these moments, including one and one less than three minutes after the fourth quarter. When she was on the ground, her teammates celebrated around her and the crowd gave the impression that the game was over.

Drums was the largest cheerleader for his teammates And Sunday, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong were the main players who made sure to leave university on a good note. Fudd ended the day 24 points and won the most remarkable honors of the players. Strong has also experienced exceptional performance with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Bueckers may not have been the hero in his last game, but everything happened as it was supposed to do. Fudd and Strong tend to shirk during press conferences and to answer most of the questions, but It will be their team next year And Sunday was a great way to pass the torch.

For Bueckers, it was a perfect end.

“It was an excellent summary of what we have been this season to be a team, to stay connected,” she said. “… It is fate and I obviously have great faith, so I believe that God has perfectly planned it in the way he died.”