“Paige Bueckers” and “injury” in the same sentence have almost never offered the UConn fans only a momentary concern. A crucial force behind the Huskies, not just as a scorer but a leader, the guard has been sidelined for a significant period for two seasons of her college career. So, when she sprained her knee in Sunday’s game against Villanova, the stadium went eerily quiet. But guess what? Things are looking way better than anyone expected as the Huskies hosted Xavier today.

An insider gave fans a sigh of relief when he posted on X, saying, “Furthermore, Bueckers jogged to the locker room behind the rest of the team with no sign of a limp.” This gave a massive relief after what initially looked like another season-altering setback.

With about 1:17 left in the third quarter, ‘Paige Bueckets’ dribbled the ball off her leg and scrambled to recover it. As she bent down to grab it near mid-court, Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe dove for the ball and ended up rolling into Bueckers’ leg. And it bent in a way that had everyone holding their breath. 

The guard was clearly in pain, grimacing and clutching her knee. She managed to limp off under her own power, but she didn’t return to the game. Despite the scare, she’d already dropped 15 points, snagged three rebounds, and dished out nine assists before leaving the court.

Later, the baller came back to the bench, her knee iced, towel over her head, tears streaming. It was heartbreaking, but the post-game update was good news. It was just a sprain. No ligament tears, no MRI needed. Geno Auriemma confirmed it, saying her ankle was sore but “fine.” 

But now, the fifth-year senior has missed 58 games, the most ever for a UConn WBCA All-American. “Obviously, she’s pissed,” the head coach shared. “The fear of ‘Do I have to go through something again?’ That’s the initial reaction. But now, she’s in great spirits.” 

And honestly, who wouldn’t be rattled after losing years to injuries? Bueckers missed all of the 2022-23 season with an ACL tear and most of 2021-22 with a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. Yet, she bounced back last year, playing all 38 games and leading UConn to its 15th Final Four in 16 years. 

This season, she is averaging 19.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Moreover, she’s just 18 points shy of hitting 2,000—a milestone she’s on track to reach faster than any other UConn player in history. 

Hence, losing her for any significant time would’ve been bad for a team already struggling with depth (only Sarah Strong is averaging in double digits, other than Paige). But the silver lining is UConn’s next few games are against unranked teams. Auriemma thinks Paige will be back within a week, but until then, someone’s got to step up.

Will Kaitlyn Chen fill in for Paige Bueckers?

After Nika Muhl’s departure, Chen became the Huskies’ steady backcourt presence alongside Bueckers. With Paige out, Chen’s experience might just be the glue for the Storrs-based program. “I feel like I’m surrounded by such great players, there’s never really a need to force a shot,” Chen said after practice. 

“But with Paige day-to-day, we all have to be a little more aggressive.” In 15 games, she’s averaging 6.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, with a sharp 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. She’s shooting an efficient 49.3% from the floor, 35.7% from three, and 78.6% from the line. 

Auriemma noted that while her scoring has dipped from her Princeton days, including going scoreless in today’s game, she’s still got it in her. “Sometimes kids like her think, ‘I’ve got these other guys I should be passing to,’” he explained. Even Chen herself called her performance “solid.”

She’s hit double figures three times this season, including a season-high 14 points against Holy Cross. Against Villanova, she didn’t score but had seven assists and four rebounds. “I’m getting more comfortable week to week,” she said. The HC even called her “one of the loudest voices” on the team, which is a big compliment for a relatively new player.

Freshman Strong expressed, “We look up to her [Chen]. She’s been here before, sort of. She knows a lot, and we listen to what she has to say.” So, until Paige returns, all eyes will be on Chen to lead the Huskies through the Big East grind. Can she deliver? Time will tell.