Paige Bueckers declares she will return to UConn for the 2024–2025 season

Up until 2025, Paige Bueckers will be the face of UConn.

The Connecticut women’s basketball All-American and front-runner for Big East Player of the Year acknowledged the “elephant in the room” during Friday’s Senior Night ceremony, causing the Huskies supporters to erupt in joy and announcing her return for the 2024–25 season.

The four UConn seniors each had a chance to speak to the fans after the Huskies, ranked 15th, defeated Georgetown 85-44 on Friday night. Aaliyah Edwards, a fellow senior, led the way with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Bueckers added 21 points and eight assists.

Bueckers told the audience, “Unfortunately, this will not be my last Senior Night because I’m coming back.” “I can’t put into words what this program has meant to me and what the fans have meant to me. Obviously, this four years didn’t go how I planned or how I wanted it to, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I wouldn’t have been able to get through what I went through without everybody here. Thank you to the best fans in the country.”

Bueckers has battled injuries throughout her career, missing 19 games last season due to a ruptured ACL. She also suffered a knee setback.

Due to her absence from the team the previous year, Connecticut’s record-setting 14-game winning streak in the Final Four came to a stop in a Sweet 16 defeat, their first loss since 2007.

The 15th-ranked Huskies are 14-0 in the Big East but have suffered five non-conference defeats and lost to South Carolina 83-65 on February 11; thus, they are not among the best teams in the country this season.

The news means the Buccaneers will be joined by Azi Fad, who is due to return next year after suffering a torn ACL. Student Aubrey Griffin also announced he will return for his fifth season after suffering a torn ACL in December. The 6-foot-2 forward was averaging 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 14 games before his injury.

Above all, UW needs to stay in better shape next season. This has affected our health more than anyone else in the nation over the past three years.