Paige Bueckers is a senior basketball player for UConn Huskies coming into the 2023 season. Paige will be returning to the team after an injury-riddled season.
The Huskies point guard, Bueckers, is a multi-athlete who tried her hand at baseball, football, and soccer before settling on basketball in first grade.
She draws inspiration from notable NBA stars such as LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Diana Taurasi.
Bueckers played high school basketball for Hopkins High School and became the first female athlete to grace the cover of the famous basketball magazine Slam.
The 21-year-old was sidelined for the entire 2022–2023 season due to her injury, which was a significant blow to the Huskies. However, despite losing key players, UConn made it into the sweet 16 of March Madness, eventually losing to Ohio State and Kevin McGuff.
Paige Bueckers Junior Season Was Injury Plagued
After returning from injury, Paige is in her fourth year at the University of Connecticut. Paige made her collegiate debut for UConn on 12th December 2020.
In her first year as a collegiate athlete, Bueckers played a crucial role in leading UConn to the Big East regular season title, earning herself the prestigious titles of Big East Player of the Year and unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year.
Despite her successful freshman season, Paige's sophomore season got off to a bumpy start when she underwent ankle surgery in April 2021 to amend an osteochondral defect.
After months of rehabilitation and exertion, she made a splendid comeback to the court. She was named a unanimous selection for the Big East Preseason Player of the Year and the AP preseason All-American team.
Paige's talent and hard work have earned her numerous accolades and awards. She even succeeded academically, making it onto the dean's list during her first semester as a sophomore.
Unfortunately, Paige has suffered a setback and cannot play during the 2022-2023 season due to a knee injury she sustained during a pick-up game in August 2022.
Where Is Paige Bueckers Now?
Paige Bueckers is now going through the rehab process after sustaining an ACL injury in 2022. She is sidelined for the early part of the next season and will soon make a comeback.
Her rehabilitation is progressing well, with Paige recently gaining the ability to walk. Her Instagram post also depicts her recovery journey, marking six months of rest.
The experience has made Paige appreciate the importance of living in the moment and not taking anything for granted. She expressed her gratitude for waking up every morning and the value of living every day to the best of her ability.
Does Bueckers Still Play For The UConn?
Paige will return to the UConn Huskies for the 2023-2024 season. Bueckers confirmed the news during an interview with Lila Bromberg.
In her first public appearance since her unfortunate injury in August 2022, Paige reassured reporters that she had no plans of leaving and was eager to resume playing college basketball.
Although many had speculated about her potentially taking a fifth year or redshirting, Paige clarified that she was not thinking too far ahead.
However, she did express her excitement about returning to the court and continuing to play at the collegiate level.
Paige, who made a remarkable debut during her freshman year at UConn, will still have three years of eligibility left after the upcoming 2022-2023 season, as mentioned by ABC News.
Her return to the team will undoubtedly be highly anticipated by fans and supporters alike, as she has already proven to be a talented and dedicated player.
Is Paige Bueckers Playing This Year?
No, Paige will not play at the start of the season following her ACL injury. However, she is expected to hit the ground running by the end of 2023.
Bueckers has been going through a rigorous rehabilitation process after undergoing surgery to repair the torn ACL in her left knee in early August 2022.
At just past the four-month mark, the daily routines have been grueling, and the rewards seem far off, which has left Paige feeling drained and exasperated.
On day 225 of her recovery, Paige will not be playing in games and will be seen on the bench in casual attire. She still has at least two more months of rehab before she can play full-contact basketball.
Besides, Paige will not be able to compete for UConn again until the start of the 2023-24 season. Despite the setbacks, she continues to work hard and remains dedicated to her recovery process to ensure she makes a complete and healthy comeback.
When Is Paige Bueckers Coming Back?
Paige has clarified that she will not rush her return to the basketball court for the 2022–2023 season, expressing her desire to recover fully before returning to play.
In an interview with The New York Times, Paige shared that her priority was to be "110% healthy" before returning to basketball. She explained that she did not want to experience another break in her career like the one she's currently facing.
Before her injury, Paige had felt physically tremendous and eagerly looked forward to the season ahead. Unfortunately, she suffered an ACL tear during a pickup game in Storrs on August 1st, 2022, bringing her season to an abrupt end.
Paige underwent surgery to repair her ACL tear. Although the injury occurred in the same knee as her previous injury, Paige emphasized that they were unrelated.
