“I just feel like I’m not done yet here,” Paige Bueckers said while reflecting on her decision to not declare for the WNBA 2024 draft. While the 22-year-old would be hoping to go for the National championship this year, having a last go at her dream, the Husky might ruin things for herself as per her head coach Geno Auriemma.

On Thursday, Auriemma sat down to chat with the ‘Storrs Central’. He shed light on what could be Bueckers’ final year with the Huskies and his chances of clinching his 12th Championship as a coach. Surprisingly, according to Auriemma, the Minnesota native’s trait could play spoilsport to their plans.

“She’s living up to what she said… You know to the point where I’m okay actually with her forcing some things because I’d rather her do that, than be passing things up. So there have been a lot of times this fall in our workouts where we’re having to say ‘hey, let’s get somebody else. Let’s have somebody else get a bucket. Let somebody else try to score rather than Paige.’ Coz she’s just doing… she wants to do it every time down in floor now. So finding some middle ground. There is going to be… but yeah this is the most aggressive, I’ve seen her since she’s been here,” Auriemma stated.

“She wasn’t her aggressive self,” Auriemma had noted when his mentee lost the Final Four game against the Iowa Hawkeyes this March Madness. The game was a close one with both teams overtaking each other in patches but ultimately went to Caitlin Clark by a narrow 71-69 margin. And Bueckers, who was the main player for the Huskies was blamed for the loss. “There was something bothering her. I think it was physical,” Auriemma noted. Thus, coming into this season, the 2025 WNBA projected number one pick wants to make the most of it, but her aggression could impede her dreams.

The Huskies guard had her two seasons marred by injuries and could not perform up to her potential. It was rather surprising to note that during the 2021-22 season, she averaged just 14.6 points per game. Many would say that this tally was nowhere close to her talent. Ultimately, the Huskies suffered in both of them. Auriemma last won a Championship title in 2016 and would be looking to end the 8 year-long title drought this season. But if his point of view is to be considered then Bueckers needs to check her emotions. Fortunately, she has aid this time around.

Paige Bueckers to team up with Azzi Fudd this season

Leading into his 40th season, Auriemma would want to have a positive result. The Storrs team has lost two of its main players Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, both of whom were drafted into the WNBA this year. And hence only two of their mainstays Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd remain on the roster.

Fudd, who tore her ACL in November last year, would be hoping to make a comeback. If Auriemma is to be believed, then she would be ready just in time. “Coach Auriemma: ‘Azzi will probably be back sooner than anyone else. Azzi I’m thinking, certainly she won’t be ready the first week of November, even the second week of November. But before we get into the biggest, most important part of our schedule. Keeping my fingers crossed,’” was tweeted by UCTV, the Huskies official media channel.

Now the question remains whether Bueckers’ aggressiveness will help UConn. Considering she will have to singlehandedly win games with some support from Jana El Alfy and Caroline Ducharme, her aggression during the initial games might prove fruitful. But she will have to make sure that, much like Clark, she doesn’t end up being highlighted by her opponents, getting screens that could end her spree.

On the other hand, if Fudd makes a comeback after the second week and is in full swing, then she can settle for alternating between being the second fiddle and the alpha. And all this will hopefully help take the Huskies to new heights. And perhaps, Auriemma will recommend the same to Bueckers.