Throughout this yr’s March Insanity event, she appears injury-free and centered on the great things. “I’m simply attempting to have enjoyable,” Bueckers informed the Massive East Convention. “Final yr I missed this chance, and I actually need to embrace it and keep in mind why I’m taking part in and the enjoyment that I play with. I at all times play higher once I’m completely happy.”
3. She was as soon as teammates with Caitlin Clark.
Whereas the Closing 4 goes to be a showdown between the 2 powerhouses, they weren’t at all times rivals: Bueckers and Clark had been really teammates for a short time just a few years in the past. They each performed for Workforce USA within the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup—and gained gold. In reality, Bueckers was even named MVP of the event, partially resulting from her position serving to her group win within the additional time last.
“Since I’ve identified her, since she was in center faculty, she’s at all times labored that very same means, she’s at all times had that fireplace, she’s at all times been an excellent chief, and I actually truthfully couldn’t be happier for her and the yr she’s had,” Clark informed SNY going into the Closing 4.
4. Bueckers makes use of her platform for advocacy.
After successful the ESPY for Greatest Ladies’s School Athlete in 2021, Bueckers used her acceptance speech as a chance to advocate for Black athletes. “As a white girl who leads a Black-led sport,” she mentioned on stage, “I need to shed a light-weight on Black girls. They don’t get the media protection they deserve. They’ve given a lot to this sport, the neighborhood, and society as an entire, and their worth is plain.”
Bueckers additionally makes use of her social media platforms to attract consideration to racism, police brutality, and social injustice. It’s private for Bueckers, whose youthful brother Drew is Black. She captioned a carousel of pictures of Drew promising, “I’m going to work for change, little brother. I need you to develop up in a world that accepts you for who you might be.”
5. She utilized to trademark the nickname “Paige Buckets.”
Bueckers should have seen a chance when the NCAA started permitting student-athletes to make cash from their identify, picture, and likeness (NIL) in 2021. In accordance with Sports activities Illustrated, she utilized to trademark the time period “Paige Buckets” to promote merch tagged together with her apt nickname (specifically “shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, hats and caps, athletic uniforms,” in line with the trademark software). It appears to be like just like the trademark has since been deserted, however now that UConn is again within the Closing 4 for a report twenty third time, it could be time to revive the plan so Bueckers’s followers can get some severe swag.
6. And he or she already has some fairly candy sponsors and partnerships.
Bueckers has greater than 2.2 million followers throughout Instagram and TikTok mixed, and he or she could also be among the many highest-paid school athletes. In 2022, Sports activities Illustrated estimated that she made $824,000 within the first 18 months after the NIL guidelines went into impact. She’s partnered with a number of noteworthy manufacturers, together with CVS, Dunkin’, and even the US Military. She’s additionally sponsored by Gatorade and Nike.
7. She’s tremendous shut together with her teammates.
Bueckers is all about her teammates, on and off the courtroom. In a post-game press convention with media on March 11, when requested about teammate Nika Muhl’s hope to interrupt the college help report (which she’s since finished), Bueckers mentioned she was “mad” about lacking a chance to assist Muhl attain her five hundredth in a latest sport. Bueckers then turned emotional fascinated with ending their time taking part in collectively: “That is my sister. My twin,” she mentioned.