Paige Bueckers, the face of the UConn Huskies, is stepping into her fifth and final year of college basketball with one clear goal: to end that eight-year championship drought. It’s been quite a ride for the 23-year-old, going from a star in high school to overcoming back-to-back injuries and leading a team full of talented juniors. 

But through it all, she has had a solid support system right there beside her- her family. Especially her dad, Bob Bueckers, and brother, Drew, have been her biggest fans, attending nearly every single game. Also, do you know her dad was a basketball player himself?

Basketball runs in the blood

The Huskies guard can proudly say that I got it from my dad! Bob Bueckers is a former point guard who’s traded his basketball sneakers for a software engineer’s shoes. Now, we know that the competitive spirit  just runs in the family. Bob and Paige’s mom, Amy Fuller, divorced when the hooper was just three years old. 

They both went on to remarry and have more kids. Currently, Paige has a brother, Ryan, and a sister, Lauren, from her mom’s side, and a brother, Drew, on her dad’s side. After the separation, Bueckers stayed with her dad in Minnesota, which totally explains her early exposure to the basketball world. 

Growing up, Bob coached her daughter and recognized her love for basketball from a young age. “When she was young, any sort of ball that was around, we’d be throwing it,” he told Ballislife. “When she started playing [basketball], she was around 5, just playing it when we’d go to the park or go to the gym or something like that.”

Well, it almost sounds like it was destined to be. As Paige grew, her father was right there and often expressed how proud he is, saying, “It has been surreal, but I think if she continues to stay true to herself, there are no boundaries for where she can go.”

“Obviously, health plays a big part in that as an athlete. But even if she wasn’t an athlete, if she stays true to herself, which I believe she is doing and is really engrained in her entire personality, she’s going to be an agent of change,” he added.

But the best part about Bob has to be him supporting his little one regardless of the game outcome and even taking to social media to fully express his emotions. Back in 2022, when the Huskies were receiving criticism, Bueckers proud father sent a message through X (Twitter).

“Let’s not overreact! Please support these young women as they are battling through a lot! They’re not robots! What they are is absolutely amazing people! I BELIEVE in the process! It’s more than just basketball!” he wrote. 

At the same time, the Huskies senior has never shied away from showing love, for instance, on Father’s Day. Even though she was busy training, she took some time to post for her dad. 

Sharing a collage of adorable pictures, she wrote, “Happy Father’s Day!! Thanks for being my source of unconditional love and support. Love you.” With that kind of support, it’s no wonder she has been able to bounce back from adversity. 

Paige Bueckers fight through injuries

Making a comeback after multiple injuries is no small feat. It all started during her sophomore year when she suffered a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear in a game against Notre Dame. She had to go through surgery and came back to help UConn reach the Final Four.

“I’m feeling much stronger. I feel more confident in my body than I ever have,” she said before the season. “I know people this year are going to test me, push me around, make sure I’m really healthy, make sure my knee’s really good and use physicality as a weapon against me, so I’m ready for that.”

But that wasn’t the end of her injury woes. In August 2022, during a seemingly innocent pickup game, Paige tore her ACL. “I knew it was bad. I felt a pop,” she recalled. Unfortunately, she was sidelined for the entire 2022-23 season, and the Huskies missed her presence on the court. 

Coach Geno Auriemma stated, “We’re all devastated for Paige. She’s worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback.” But throughout the recovery process, the guard showed resilience like you wouldn’t believe. 

Her father mentioned the emotional toll injuries can take and how well she’s managed the situation. “She’s been at the highest of highs and, after she got the injuries, probably the lowest of lows. Overall, I think she’s handled it well. I know she’s had some tough days. But that’s expected,” he said.

“With an injury sometimes it’s equally hard physically and emotionally, how you deal with it. She seems to be in a good place, but every day is different,” he added. And finally, in June, the Huskies HC shared that Bueckers was the “best,” “strongest” and “fittest” she’s ever been.

The hooper herself confirmed her return on Aug. 9, 2023, by posting that after 369 days, she was finally fully cleared and “ready for takeoff.” Playing her first match in November 2023 against Dayton, she proved her coach meant every word he said. 

This year, she was supposed to transition to the pro, but she is returning. “Unfortunately, this will … not be my last Senior Night here at UConn because I’m coming back,” she announced. Can she bring home that elusive title to UConn?