“I want to prove that I’m a winner at every level.” — Paige Bueckers to The Ringer, before the 2024–25 season. That wasn’t just a soundbite—it was a mission statement. A promise. A prophecy.

Bueckers made sure that she stood true to every word. She returned to UConn for a redshirt senior season when most expected her to leap to the WNBA. But Paige had come too far—through surgeries, silence, and sidelined seasons—not to take one final shot at the only thing missing from her resume: a national championship.

“I’m not just coming back to play,” she had said, “I’m coming back to win.”

Before she ever touched a college court, Bueckers was already a legend. She led Hopkins High School (Minnesota) to a 30–0 record and a state championship in 2020, and finished her high school career with a 110–13 record. Her AAU coach, Tara Starks, once said, “She’s doing Magic Johnson–type stuff”—and she was only in fourth grade.

Then came UConn. Five years. Four Final Fours. Three seasons clouded by injury and heartbreak. Two years spent recovering from major setbacks. And finally, one national title. These are the top five moments that turned Paige Bueckers from a prodigy into a proven, battle-tested champion.

5. Bueckers Historic Freshman Sweep (2021)

From the moment she touched the floor, it was clear: Bueckers wasn’t here to learn the system. She was the system. As a freshman, she became the first player in NCAA women’s basketball history to win the Naismith, Wooden, and AP Player of the Year awards in the same season. She averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.9 rebounds—unheard-of numbers for a newcomer.

More impressively, she set a new UConn freshman record with 168 assists, including a single-game record of 14 against Butler. Her three-point shooting efficiency (46.38%) ranked fourth in the nation and ninth in a single season at UConn. Bueckers also became the first UConn freshman with back-to-back 30-point games. What’s more is that she had to pocket only three quarters to accomplish that feat. She continued her record-breaking spree by also becoming the program’s first player to record the most points in a tournament debut. “It’s a year of firsts,” Bueckers said postgame, unable to contain her excitement at being interviewed by ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

4. Season-High Domination vs. UNC (2024)

In her redshirt senior season, Bueckers was still breaking through ceilings. On November 15, 2024, she torched No. 14 North Carolina with a season-high 29 points, shooting 57.1% from the floor and 4-of-8 from deep. She dropped 16 in the first quarter alone—including a cold-blooded buzzer-beater—and finished with four boards, four dimes, and two steals.

Even UNC’s coaching staff, led by Courtney Banghart, recognized Bueckers as a singular threat. “She’s an exceptional player,” Banghart said. “She’s unselfish, and we focused our defense on her. I think she doesn’t push, she doesn’t force, she has teammates she trusts and utilizes them.”

In the second half, UNC switched to a 3-2 zone to crowd the middle and limit Bueckers’ drives. “We went over some more coverages. We went into our kind of secondary coverages, zone and things like that,” Banghart explained. “You do what you can to manage [Bueckers], quite honestly.” Despite these adjustments, Bueckers remained composed, finding open shots and helping her teammates, finishing with zero turnovers.

The win kept UConn undefeated early in the season and earned her Big East Player of the Week honors. But more than the stats, it was a statement: the old Paige was back, and she was hungrier than ever.

3. Double-OT Classic vs. NC State (2022)

They called it one of the greatest Elite Eight games ever played. What they should’ve called it instead was the Paige Bueckers game. Coming off knee surgery and limited minutes in the tournament, she played 45 grueling minutes against NC State and dropped 27 points in a double-overtime thriller.

Her shot-making was surgical, her poise otherworldly. Coach Geno Auriemma didn’t mince words: “Divine.” That night, Bueckers didn’t just put UConn into a record 14th straight Final Four—she cemented her status as a clutch postseason killer.

2. Career-High 40 in Sweet 16 vs. Oklahoma (2025)

At halftime, Geno was furious. The Huskies trailed 36–32, and Paige had 11 points but had missed key defensive assignments. “He told me once I got my defensive mentality back, I could start winning the game for us,” she later recalled.

And so she did.

Bueckers exploded for 29 second-half points—single-handedly outscoring the entire Oklahoma team in that span—and finished with a career-high 40. It was the most ever by a UConn player in an NCAA Tournament game. The Huskies won 82–59, and the legend of Paige grew louder.

1. Bueckers Coronation: The Championship and the Crown (2025)

In her final ride, Bueckers did what she came back to do. She led UConn to the mountaintop, sealing an 82–59 victory over South Carolina in the national championship game. She scored 17 in the title bout, but her tournament was defined by consistency, clutch shooting, and sheer will. “I hope my legacy can be one of giving, being a great teammate, a great leader—and now a winner,” Bueckers said postgame. 

And it would just not be right to not mention the hug between the star guard and her coach, Geno Auriemma. With 1:32 left, coach Geno Auriemma subbed out Bueckers, Fudd, and Strong, and Bueckers shared a tearful embrace with her coach. It was the first time the player had seen her coach cry. “I love you,” Auriemma told her, later calling her journey “the most incredible for any kid I’ve had.”

Now, that is not just a top moment of Bueckers’ career, but a top moment in the history of March Madness.