Paige Bueckers has long been tipped for greatness.
The UConn guard arrived in Connecticut as one of the highest-profile prospects in history — a McDonalds All-American who appeared destined to join the likes of Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart as supernovas to have graced the hardwood and Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
She's more than lived up to expectations in the years since. Bueckers is among the college game's greatest talents. She captured Naismith Player of the Year honors as a freshman and has maintained that level of production throughout her college career. In the process, she's helped mold Geno Auriemma's side into a perennial national championship contender, even if it hasn't actually hoisted such hardware just yet.
Bueckers' name has swirled around the college game for some time, but just how long has Bueckers been enrolled in school? The Sporting News details Bueckers' college career up to date, including just what year she's in.
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What year is Paige Bueckers at UConn?
Bueckers is a redshirt junior with the Huskies.
The 22-year-old is listed as one of four juniors on UConn's roster, joined by Caroline Ducharme, Azzi Fudd, and Aubrey Griffin, per UConn's athletic department.
How long has Paige played for UConn?
Bueckers is a veteran in Storrs, having played at UConn for three different seasons. Her maiden season came in 2020-21, one year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought collegiate sports to a halt.
It tends to take freshmen some time to adjust to the college game. For Bueckers — the consensus No. 1 prospect in the country — that wasn't quite the case.
Bueckers came out the gate like a cannon, starting all 29 games with the Huskies. Her numbers were quite gaudy: Bueckers averaged 20.0 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per contest on 52.4/46.4/86.9 percent shooting splits. For her efforts, she was awarded a laundry list of accolades, including AP, Naismith, and USWBA Player of the Year honors, the John R. Wooden Award, and the Nancy Lieberman Award for the nation's best point guard.
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It appeared as if Bueckers were to reclaim her status as college basketball's best floor general during her sophom*ore season. However, she was felled by a series of injuries to her left knee. Bueckers underwent operations on a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear partway through the year. Although she returned to the floor in February, she was placed on a heavy minutes restriction.
Bueckers eventually came to life during the NCAA tournament, exploding for 27 points (15 during OT/2OT) as the Huskies vanquished top-seeded foe North Carolina State to reach the Final Four. Although UConn couldn't capture a championship, Bueckers was one of the stars of the tournament, having nabbed All-Tournament honors.
On the whole, Bueckers averaged 14.6 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.0 assists on 54.4/35.3/71.4 splits. She received AP All-American votes for her efforts.
After two standout campaigns, it appeared Bueckers was on the precipice of taking the Huskies to the promised land. Then, disaster struck; Bueckers tore her ACL during a summer pickup game ahead of her junior year. She was kept out for the whole of the 2022-23 year.
Bueckers found a new lease on life when she returned to the floor. And as a redshirt junior, she has dazzled, pouring in 21.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds a night on 54-percent efficiency, right in line with her freshman-year best. Most important, though, is that Bueckers has started and completed all 36 of the Huskies games so far this season.
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Paige Bueckers' major at UConn
Bueckers is a human development and family studies major. The Minnesota native has quietly racked up accolades off the floor, as well, thrice being named to the Big East's All-Academic team. She also has featured four different times on UConn's dean's list. Bueckers currently has a 3.497 GPA. She posted a 3.930 GPA during her Fall 2023 semester, per CT Insider's Maggie Vanoni.
Bueckers was recently awarded theBig East Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor for her work in the classroom. It was her second time winning the award, which carries with it a $2,000 scholarship.
Is Paige Bueckers entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Despite being tabbed as a top-three prospect in this year's WNBA draft, Bueckers will not be heading to the professional ranks. Rather, she announced her intention to return to Storrs for one more season during senior night.
RELATED:Is Paige Bueckers entering the 2024 WNBA Draft?
— UConn on SNY (@SNYUConn) February 17, 2024"Unfortunately this will not be my last Senior NIght"
PAIGE BUECKERS WILL RETURN TO STORRS NEXT YEAR! pic.twitter.com/0F9hS04Rof
She projects to be one of the leading candidates for the No. 1 overall pick come the 2025 draft.
