Paige Bueckers has been one of the best and most must-see women's college basketball players in the past and has taken the sport by storm since she arrived at UConn.

However, when Paige Bueckers was sidelined with a torn ACL, it created an opportunity for other stars to shine. Players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark stepped up, showcasing the dynamic nature of women's college basketball.

• Subscribe To FloHoops To Watch UConn At The 2024 Baha Mar Women’s Championship
• 2024 College Basketball Holiday Tournament Schedule: Here's Every Game
• College Basketball Top 25 Preseason Rankings For Women’s Division II

Now, with Bueckers returning to the fold after having a healthy and impactful season, here are five things to know about Paige Bueckers.

1. Paige Bueckers Was The First Freshman To Win AP POY

• In 2021, Bueckers became the first freshman to win the AP Player of the Year award after one of the most impressive freshman seasons ever, averaging 20 points per game and 4.8 assists.
• She was also the first freshman to earn the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and USBWA Player of the Year and led the Huskies to the final four.

2. The All-Time Huskies Scoring Record Is In Reach

• During her first year, Paige Bueckers joined basketball legend Maya Moore as the fastest to reach 1,000 collegiate points, finishing it in 55 games.
• Moore finished her career at UConn with 3,036 points through 154 games, and Bueckers has scored 1,747 points through 88 games, meaning she needs 1,290 points to break the record.
• Depending on how this year goes, she can become one step closer to the record and decide to go for it with her extra year of eligibility, which brings me to my next point. 

3. We Could See Her In The WNBA Next Year

• With the result of the draft lottery last concluding with the Dallas Wings winning the No. 1 draft pick, it is projected that Paige Bueckers will be selected with that pick.
• However, due to the season-ending injury suffered by Bueckers during her junior season, she could choose to remain in college for one year, thanks to her extra year of eligibility.
• If she does decide to declare for the WNBA draft, she will undoubtedly be heading to Dallas to play alongside Arike Ogunbowale, Natasha Howard, and others.

  
  

4. She Hasn't Missed A Beat Since Coming Back From Injury

• Although she is currently averaging the most points in her career through three games at 25.5, Bueckers finished last season putting in 21.9 points per game and helped her team to another deep NCAA tournament run, coming up short in the final four again.

• Bueckers also posted four double-doubles in three out of five games in the tournament with points and rebounds which shows how she has elevated her game because she still showcased her playmaking skills when needed.

5. This Could Be The Year That UConn Gets The Job Done 

• Bueckers and the Huskies have come close to winning another national championship for the prestigious program since she has put on the Uconn jersey, but have come up short and reached the final four the last two out of the three years, and a national championship game, but this could be the year they get it done.
• Of course, the defending champion, the South Carolina Gamecocks, will always be a team to be reckoned with. However, with LSU and Iowa losing their top stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the draft, the Huskies are among the top three contenders for the national title this year, aside from teams like South Carolina and USC, followed by other great teams in Notre Dame, Duke, Texas, UCLA, etc.
• With the continued emergence of Paige Bueckers and the surrounding talent around her, fans should not be surprised if the Huskies end up in contention to cut down the net.

How To Watch College Basketball On The FloSports Network

Basketball games are streaming all year long on FloHoops, FloCollege and the new FloSports streaming app. Game replays, highlights and more will be available on all platforms. 

Watch NCAA Women’s Basketball On FloHoops

NCAA Women’s Basketball is streaming live on FloHoops and the FloSports app. 

The BIG EAST Digital Network also is on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

FloHoops Archived Footage

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHoops subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The College Basketball Conversation On FloHoops Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHoops
• Follow us on Instagram @flohoops
• Follow us on TikTok @Flohoopstv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook