Paige Bueckers & Co. Flood UConn Teammate With Heartfelt Messages on Her First Birthday With Huskies

Birthdays are more than just cake and candles—they’re a chance to celebrate the bonds that make a team more than just a roster. For UConn’s women’s basketball team, those bonds were on full display as Paige Bueckers and her teammates flooded social media with heartfelt messages for Kaitlyn Chen. The love came on the heels of a dominant 86-47 victory over Butler, where Chen and Bueckers shone on the court, making everything all the more special.  

The celebration kicked off with Bueckers taking to Instagram and posting a collage of her and Chen’s pictures, with a single photo at the center. Chen’s beaming smile lit up the post, which was captioned, “Happy birthday, Chen 🫶🏼 My best zitster!.” The playful nickname and genuine affection set the tone for a flood of birthday wishes from the Huskies’ tight-knit squad.

Also, for Chen, this birthday was a little more special as it was her first as a Husky after transferring last year. This heartfelt message from Bueckers came right after both players helped UConn take down Butler in a big win. Chen put up 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists in 24 minutes, while Bueckers led the way with 23 points, five assists, and nine rebounds. So far this season, Chen has averaged 6.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 rebounds, despite her minutes dropping due to new talent on the roster.

Of course, the birthday wishes didn’t stop with Bueckers. Morgan Cheli, UConn’s Gold Medalist, shared a story for Chen, captioning it, “Happy birthday 🥳🥳@kaitlynchen,” with a celebrating smile emoji and a collage of their pictures together. Aubrey Griffin followed suit, posting, “Happy birthday KAIT 🥳🥳(aka my AT😏),” tagging Kaitlyn with a playful nod to their friendship.

Ashlynn Shade, UConn ‘27, joined in with a simple yet heartfelt message: “Happy birthday @kaitlynchen🥳🥳🥳 Have the best day ever!🫶🏼” Allie Ziebell, UConn’s #11 and a Gold Medalist, added her own touch, sharing a collage of her and Chen with the caption, “Happy Birthdayyyy @kaitlynchen 😘 Love You! Have a great day!”

But the love didn’t just come from her UConn family. Grace, Princeton ‘24, chimed in with a post captioned, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY KFC,” alongside a photo of the two. She also shared a court picture of them with the caption, “I LOVE U”. Cate Bade of Princeton also wished her, posting a picture of Chen. “It’s @kaitlyn.chen’s bday!”

The Huskies remain undefeated in the Big East Conference with a 16-0 record and an overall season standing of 26-3. With only three games left before March Madness, UConn aims to maintain their strong performance, starting with their upcoming game. Moments like these are a reminder that their success isn’t just about stats—it’s about their chemistry.

Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn are building something special at UConn

There’s Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen, then everybody else. That’s how UConn’s early practices shaped up back in October. And now, months later, that dynamic is playing out on the court. The Huskies’ backcourt duo isn’t just coexisting—they’re building something special.

During one of UConn’s early practices, a scrimmage moment made it clear: Bueckers and Chen were on the same wavelength. After a defensive stop, Bueckers pushed the pace, scanning the floor. Without hesitation, Chen cut to the corner, already knowing what was coming. A no-look pass from Bueckers, a quick release from Chen—nothing but net. The gym erupted. That wasn’t luck. That was chemistry.

Saturday’s 86-47 beatdown of Butler was the latest example. Bueckers ran the show, picking apart the defense with her passing and scoring. Chen, the Princeton transfer, looked completely in sync, knocking down shots and keeping the offense moving. 

For Chen, getting to this point took some adjusting. Even Geno Auriemma admitted how tricky that transition was. “It’s not an easy thing to walk in here… Do I act like a veteran, or am I a rookie?” he said earlier this season. She averaged 15.8 points and 4.9 assists last season, but her efficiency has skyrocketed with the Huskies. This season, she’s shooting a career-high 52.7% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. Her ability to run the offense and knock down shots has been a huge boost for UConn.

At Princeton, she had to carry the scoring load. At UConn, she’s thriving as a true backcourt partner. She’s not just supporting Bueckers—she’s making her better. Defenses can’t focus on one without the other making them pay. That’s what makes this duo so tough to stop.

Bueckers, meanwhile, is reminding everyone why she’s one of the best players in the country. A full offseason without injuries gave her time to refine her game, and it shows. She’s more aggressive, more assertive. Auriemma said, “She is looking to do way more, to be more involved.” That’s been obvious. Her playmaking is elite, but her scoring instincts remain lethal. She’s averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while leading UConn’s charge toward March.

Together, Bueckers and Chen are setting the tone for the Huskies. Opponents can’t just lock in on one—both can run the offense, score in big moments, and create for teammates. It’s a backcourt built for deep tournament runs. Saturday’s game was just another reminder of how special this backcourt is.