Injured UConn girls’s basketball star Paige Bueckers to bypass early WNBA Draft entry, return to Huskies for 2023-24 season

STORRS, Conn. — Reigning girls’s faculty basketball nationwide participant of the 12 months Paige Bueckers mentioned Thursday that whereas she will likely be age-eligible to declare for the 2023 WNBA draft, she’s going to return to UConn for the 2023-24 season regardless of being sidelined this upcoming season with an ACL harm.

“I am not leaving. That isn’t in query,” Bueckers informed reporters on Thursday in her first media look since her August harm. “Folks requested me, ‘What are you enthusiastic about fifth 12 months, COVID 12 months, redshirting this 12 months.’ I am not pondering too far forward about that in any respect. However I will likely be enjoying faculty basketball once more.”

Bueckers, a junior who took the faculty basketball scene by storm her freshman season at UConn, can have three years of eligibility remaining following the 2022-23 marketing campaign.

Along with incomes nearly each nationwide accolade possible (together with the Nancy Liberman award, Naismith participant of the 12 months and the Picket award), the Minnesota native grew to become probably the most outstanding faces within the sport because the NCAA loosened rules surrounding title, picture and likeness alternatives, one thing she’s going to proceed to have the ability to take benefit.

Bueckers’ ACL tear was a devastating blow for the phenom level guard after she’d missed 19 video games throughout November and February final season with a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in her left knee. She returned in time for the NCAA event, the place she helped propel 2-seed UConn to its first nationwide title recreation look since 2016, the place the Huskies misplaced to No. 1 total seed South Carolina.

Bueckers mentioned that previous to her ACL tear, she was feeling “actually good” bodily and was longing for the season to begin. Then got here the fateful pickup recreation in Storrs on Aug. 1.

“I used to be going full velocity and I kind of tried to come back to a cease and there was some contact, not loads of contact, however it simply sort of gave out,” Bueckers mentioned. “I knew it was dangerous. I felt a pop. After which I went to the coaching room and I used to be extraordinarily annoyed. I did not understand how critical it was, however I knew one thing was unsuitable.”

A MRI later confirmed the ACL tear, and she or he underwent surgical procedure later that week to restore it. Although it occurred in the identical knee as final 12 months’s accidents, Bueckers mentioned the incidents had been “unrelated.”

The purpose guard mentioned rehab goes nicely and that she has just lately been capable of stroll much more. She’s been biking, bought cleared for chair exercises, and can quickly be capable to do work within the pool.

“Final 12 months, I bought harm however there was all the time the reassurance that I may return and I may very well be again in the identical season,” Bueckers mentioned. “This simply actually makes me by no means need to take issues without any consideration once more, reside within the second, do not suppose too far sooner or later since you by no means know what may occur. So simply dwelling on a regular basis to one of the best of my potential, being grateful to God that I get up each morning.”

Bueckers shut down any hope of her making a speedy comeback in time to seem within the 2022-23 season.

“I actually simply need to be 110% wholesome earlier than I ever play basketball once more,” Bueckers mentioned. “Simply because I by no means need to take a break like this once more, ever in my profession.”

She additionally hopes to behave as a gamers’ coach throughout the season to assist her teammates – if she does not take Geno Auriemma’s spot first.

“Nah yeah I am head coach,” Bueckers joked. “Coach [Auriemma] let me take his spot.”

The Huskies will seek for a brand new id after additionally sending off three gamers to the WNBA. Serving to take up the mantle will likely be a mixture of a handful of upperclassmen returners, promising underclassmen (headlined by former No. 1 total recruit Azzi Fudd) and a slew of newcomers, together with three freshmen and a graduate switch.

“Final 12 months, we had been the underdogs and we made it to the nationwide championship recreation so I feel we play higher and we do higher with a chip on our shoulder and we’ve rather a lot to show,” Bueckers mentioned. “And I do know lots of people are already counting us out. So I am excited. This workforce is aware of our potential. I do know our potential, coach is aware of our potential, and we’ve actually massive issues forward of us…. I am excited for them to point out the world what we are able to do.”