Paige Bueckers, the freshman phenom for the University of Connecticut (UConn) Women’s Basketball team, was named the National Player of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.
Bueckers, who was also named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season, had an outstanding week, leading the Huskies to victories over two top-25 teams.
In the first game against the then No. 17-ranked DePaul Blue Demons, Bueckers scored a career-high 30 points, making six of her seven three-point attempts. She also added seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the 100-67 rout.
Bueckers followed up her impressive performance against DePaul with another stellar showing against the then No. 1-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. She recorded 31 points, making 13 of her 22 shots, and added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the 63-59 UConn victory.
Bueckers’ performance against South Carolina was particularly impressive as it was the first time a UConn freshman had scored 30 or more points in consecutive games since Maya Moore in the 2008-09 season.
Bueckers’ coach, Geno Auriemma, was full of praise for the young star, saying, “Paige is a special player. She’s a once-in-a-generation kind of player. She’s got all the tools, all the skills, and all the competitiveness that you need to be a dominant player in college basketball.”
Bueckers’ excellent performances have helped UConn extend their winning streak to eight games and improve their record to 15-1 on the season. She is currently averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Bueckers’ success has not gone unnoticed, as she has already been named the AAC Freshman of the Week five times this season and the USBWA National Player of the Week twice. She is also a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is given to the nation’s top point guard.
As a freshman, Bueckers has already made a significant impact on the UConn Women’s Basketball program, and her future looks incredibly bright. Her combination of talent, work ethic, and competitiveness has made her one of the best players in college basketball. With Bueckers leading the way, the Huskies are sure to be a force to be reckoned with not just this season, but for years to come.