When Paige Bueckers graduated from Minnesota girls’ high school basketball in 2019, she joined the UConn Huskies to draw immediate attention. But as the seasons progressed, she developed an unwavering bond with her team. “They’re amazing; they’re my family,” she expressed in 2022. Yet, despite their five-year relationship, there’s one key detail that her head coach recently forgot about his standout player.

It’s her age. On October 24, UConn’s head coach joined NBC Sports in sharing his perspective ahead of their championship run. As the host brought up Paige’s growth through the challenging years at UConn and questioned what joy it has been to witness that to Auriemma, he recounted a moment from Bueckers’ birthday. “I asked, ‘Are you 21 or 22?’ and she said, ‘I’m 23.’ I had forgotten this was her fifth year—you know, I just thought four years.” he said.

With years of experience guiding talented players, UConn’s head coach has seen very few dedicate their fifth year of eligibility to pursue a championship title. Bueckers is among them. While he might have felt embarrassed about forgetting her age, he later expressed his “unbelievable satisfaction” in watching someone grow from a freshman.

For him, it’s the “growth” and “changes” that keep him “engaged and motivated because you want them to succeed.” He’s certainly right. Over the years, he has watched Bueckers’ remarkable progress, a journey that’s been hard to believe given her injuries.

One last chance for Paige Beuckers and Geno Auriemma

When she first joined the Huskies, she averaged a strong 20 points per game, shooting with an impressive 46.8% accuracy from beyond the arc. But just when things seemed to be going well, her sophomore season was disrupted by injuries. An ankle injury was followed by a tibial plateau fracture and a lateral meniscus tear.

As a result, she only played 17 games that season. Yet, Bueckers didn’t lose hope and worked hard for a comeback. Her motivation, however, faced another setback when she tore her ACL in her left knee during a friendly game in the 2022 offseason. It was her teammates that got her through the difficult time. “Having them all back here on campus right now is extremely important for me and my mental state,” admitted Bueckers after getting injured.

With Geno Auriemma’s support and the Huskies roster’s unmatched love, she once again found the courage to return, shining brighter than ever with an impressive 21.9 points per game average, shooting 53%. But her mission isn’t complete yet. The main goal of her fifth year—the championship title—still lies ahead. Will she achieve it?