Thompson: Paige Bueckers did not need a title to be a Uconn legend. He deserved one, though

Tampa, Fla. – With 1:32 remained in the fourth quarter, while curling up with his teammates during a stop at stake, Paige Bueckers heard his name called. He was the serial number Uconn Allie Ziebell and delivered his towel companion to his superstar.

This was not a surrender towel. But one of the results. A rest towel, which represents the peace deriving from a well -done job. Bueckers grabbed him and walked to the Huskies bench. His face has softened, his arrangement relaxed. He saw the embrace of the completion waiting.

“So many emotions,” said Bueckers. “Gratitude was the main – of the journey, the ups and downs, everything we wanted to get to that point.”

The Geno Auriemma, his coach, his Sensei, his lawyer, often the plug in his part, now and forever the cortex in his conscience, became the warmth at the end of an epic journey. His arms that enveloped them in a triumphant embrace gave Buackers permission to stop and hear the reward of his work.

For this moment, if only for this moment, it could put the plow down. His huskies were only at moments from a shower of confetti that follow Sunday 829 is shocking from the South Carolina. He could turn off the fire that is burning. It could disassemble the guard of his stature and fame requires erecting. He could give up any doubt and worry in the cracks of his psyche.

Because he did it. In his latest game with Uconn – in the presence of Huskies icons such as Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, his Bird and Breanna Stewart in the stands – Bueckers became national champion.

And in front of a crowd exhausted at the Amalie Arena, before a million more views elsewhere, he let everything go. He squeezed a narrow auriemm, releasing all the energy that a superstar had to carry, while his tears fell on his coach’s shoulder.

As he sobbed, Auriemma told his guard that he loved her.

“There are times when she and I are very, very serious together,” he explained. “And many serious conversations have been made in the last five years between the two of us. Some conversations are light and fun and they mean nothing. But today it was the first, I think, in five years that all the emotions they built inside me have come out. And they came out here because in five years it was at Connecticut, I have never seen his crying.”

And in this touching performance, while the world of basketball melted from their shared affection, one of the greatest auriemma that ever trained has replied.

“And I told him,” said Bueckers, “I hated him.”

Bueckers deserved this moment. It has earned this moment. But the truth is that he didn’t need this moment.

Paige Bueckers shared a long embrace with Geno Auriemma while checking his latest college basketball game 🫂 pic.twitter.com/jz9jm630hu

– The Athletic (@Theathletic) April 6, 2025

In another universe in which the Gamecocks played the game of their life and upset Uconn, the reality of his supremacy remains unchanged. A title will undoubtedly be added to its legend. But Bueckers was already legendary.

Because, truly, the winners are not defined by the victories, but by the will to produce them. And the character who inevitably wins reveals.

The greatest victory in Bueckers, the most significant for its undeniable inheritance, is the way in which it manages the weight of his crown. What emanates from the pedestal on which it is perched. His greatness is kind. He knows how to shine while they turn it out and how to merge the character and competitiveness.

You cannot forget the era in which it is located. He carried the burden of the Uconn standard when his domain had never been under attack. He brought the four Final Four Huskies, inserted an ACL injury that cost her a season, in a proliferated era with stars and formidable programs.

However, the same reason that Bueckers did not need a national champion is exactly the reason why he now has one. Because the package of his game is elite. He is a versatile director who has an impact on the defensive end. She competes with a ferocity that contradict her pleasantness. He can dominate a game with his ability or control him with his intangibles.

“Phenomenal player. Definitely,” said Bree Hall, the main defender of the South Carolina who has combined the best of the game during his four seasons.

“Hats to her. She is a great, great player. She arrives at her blows. She knows how to open up … she certainly did this today. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to compete against her in the W – or maybe be in the same team.”

The original idea behind the word legend was a reference to the things to read. In the 14th century, with literacy the ability of a few elected, something had to be worthy of being written and was written to be read. When something happened, when something was important, it was recorded in some way to be broadcast. So others could read and know.

Bueckers’ trip is written. The phenomenon of the Liceo of St. Louis Park, Minn., Which announced its arrival in the first madness of post-Pandemic march with stellar game in empty gyms. Who has returned from a knee injury to lead Uconn to the game of the title as a second year – just to lose the following season with an ACL tear. Who returned with a revenge, with an average of 21.9 career points in his Junior season, which ended with a classic duel against Caitlin Clark. Who led a young team without an elite player as a co-protagonist in a race to the title that with hindsight was surprisingly dominant.

After losing in Tennessee on February 6, Uconn escaped 16 consecutive victories with an average margin of 32.1. The closest that each team has arrived was the loss of 14 points of the so -called against the Huskies in the Eight elite.

“It was a story of resilience, gratitude, adversity, to overcome adversity,” said Bueckers. “I am just responding to the challenges of life and trying to feed them to make me a better person, a better player and continue to grow in my leadership skills and be a great teammate and stay only who I am.

The story of Uconn, the narration of the emergency of women’s basketball, cannot be told without buckers. And it was unequivocally worthy of telling. It is a great of all the times of one of the great sports programs in history. It is a pillar in the women’s basketball revolution. It’s a Baller dancer.

None of this can also be questioned now, because Bueckers sees the final prize. But this was confirmation and not validate it. His Uconn race that culminates in a championship is the sparkling bottle in the celebration of his career.

Paige Bueckers and the coach Geno Auriemma shared a hug in tears on the top of the field after the elderly person checked -out of the game. (Morgan Engel / NCAA Photo through Getty Images)

Having said that, he wanted it clearly. Judging from how he played, he wanted him badly.

Bueckers led a team of Huskies owned. Uconn suffered an offense of limited gamecocks in the options and sculpted the aggressive defense of the reigning champion. When the Huskies saw the southern Carolina who lost trust and ended the answers, moved the gears and left the women of Dawn Staley in a navy blue haze cloud.

This was not one of the explosive performances for which Bueckers became known. But he left more fingerprints during this ring than a lazy thief. He was the symphonic director, as Auriemma he described it in the best way. Sunday, he gave a particular tone.

In the last seconds of the first quarter, the striker of the serial number of Gamecocks Joyce Edwards had a wide open look outside of a Drive-and-to from Te-Hina Paopao, but Bueckers blocked him from behind. It was the type of extra-suction game that Uconn would have done all night to make the South Carolina feel as if he was playing 5 out of 8. On the possession of the Huskies that follow, Bueckers led and turned off a runner from the glass.

Uconn went to the second quarter. The Huskies were unharmed through nervousness and what turned out to be the best shot of the South Carolina.

At the end of the third quarter, his will to win presented himself again. With 1:45 on the left and the South Carolina on the ropes, Bueckers entered the trees and grabbed an offensive rebound. He designed a foul on the rebound, which rushed offensively. What the gamecocks thought would have been a stop transformed into two free shots. Bueckers beat violently to punctuate the hustle and bustle.

On the consequent defensive possession, Bueckers again transformed the Carolina of the South. He followed Raven Johnson’s missed sweater, beating Sania Feagin on the ball. At this point, the Gamecocks were falling in 18 years and their best offense was an offensive rebound. So Bueckers would not let them have it.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the desperate gamecocks that extended from the pressure, Bueckers enriched themselves with a madman from Sarah Strong. Azzi Fudd had tried to do the same seconds before, but had been hit by aggression. But the Savvy of Bueckers presented himself as he ensured that Bree Hall was captured by the screen. So Bueckers blocked the sweater on the tense hand of Chloe Kitts.

Two possessions later, after a stop, pushed the ball into transition. He had a path to the basket, but had a different goal in mind. Fudd was the heat one Sunday. He finished with 24 points, winning the most exceptional player. Bueckers virated towards Fudd on the right wing. The crazy dribbling has obtained an open look. She missed the 3, but it was a sign of buckers for the jugular.

He found it. Connecticut obtained the offensive rebound and Bueckers opened on a cut on the back. Forte hit her at a pace. Milaysia Fullwiley, the athletic guard of the South Carolina, raised from the weak side of the block. But he hit the arm of Bueckers in the trial. The whistle blended, the layup fell, the crowd broke out and Bueckers placed on the back, screaming and flexing. His free shot put on Uconn of 29 with 7:45 remaining.

10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/4qsrccgzmmm

– Uconn women’s basketball (@uconnwbb) April 6, 2025

Auriemma said that Bueckers can be hypnotizing and exasperating. When he is dominating, when he has all the elements of a team, of the scheme, of a match on a rope, it is poetry for a coach. When venturing from the plan, a freedom offered by his talent and the ethics of work can drive a coach crazy.

“It happened a couple of times today. And it’s really exasperating. He will want to dictate, and my relationship with her has been, I know what will do and it is not always what I want her to do. But in the end, she is always doing what she thinks she has to do for us to win.”

That’s why it’s a legend. Since he has the audacity to face the challenge, face every enemy, any obstacle, Uconn’s pressure, even his iconic coach. It is produced in ways only legendary figures. He put the numbers. He choreographed the victories. He orchestrated moments. He delivered the chills.

And when it was all over, having dedicated everything he had for five years to his beloved Uconn, Bueckers came out of the field with a final final memory conducted. He had given her blood. He had shown her.

On Sunday, he finally gave tears.

(Photo by Paige Bueckers: C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photo through Getty Images)