Uconn basketball The star of Paige Bueckers wanted to thank his supporters one last time before playing his last college match at the Gampel Pavilion.
Bueckers equaled its 34 -point career summit to help the Huskies qualify for their 31st appearance Sweet 16 with a victory over southern Dakota in the female state in women NCAA tournament Monday.
The guard of Uconn Paige Bueckers is aimed at fans after his last match at Gampel Pavilion at the end of a second round match against the state of southern Dakota in the NCAA tournament, Monday, March 2025, in Storrs, Connecticut. (AP photo / Jessica Hill)
The fifth senior year received a standing ovation from the crowd crowds when she left the field a few minutes before the end of her last home game.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
“It means everything,” said Bueckers. “We started playing here with cardboard cutouts as fans, so just to have crossed this and then have experienced the other side, which was incredible. The atmosphere was incredible. You can’t even hear waiting times, I can’t even hear mistakes, can’t even hear when the whistle is simply blowing because of their rude and the quantity of support they show.
“It was a dream of playing here, a dream of carrying this uniform, a dream of playing in this environment. As much as you wanted it to continue to happen, you simply take every chance you have and never take it for granted.”
But it was a kind gesture of Bueckers who contributed to this atmosphere on Monday evening.
Uconn Huskies goalkeeper, Paige Bueckers, comes out of the ground after defeating the southern Dakota Jackrabbits at the Harry A. Gampel pavilion on March 24, 2025. (Images David Butler II-Imagn)
Uconn Star Paige Bueckers shines in a farewell home match while the Huskies are competing for the national championship
CT Insider reported that Bueckers had bought 1,500 tickets and gave them to the fans to thank them for their support.
“They gave me a lot and gave me so much to the team, support,” she said, via the point of sale. “We would not be where we are without them. These are the best supporters in the country. You see this in the environment like tonight. They are my friends. These are my peers. They are the people I go to in class.
“I was just trying to give back as much as they give us, because it means everything. To be able to support them and make our last home match this year was an excellent environment, it was cool to do.”
The Uconn guard, Paige Bueckers, goes to the basket against the state of southern Dakota during the NCAA tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Storrs, Connecticut. (AP photo / Jessica Hill)
Uconn went to face Oklahoma in Sweet 16 on Saturday in Spokane, Washington, where Bueckers will seek to win the national championship before going to the WNBA Draft Like the overall choice n ° 1 planned.
