If there is any NCAA player who knows how to get back up after a nasty fall, it has to be Paige Bueckers. From menial ankle sprains in her freshman year to major ACL tears, tibial plateau fractures, and joint damage all in her sophomore year, the UConn star has gone through a lot. Still, she somehow rises every time to put the Huskies on her shoulders. Hence, with so much history with her at Storrs, what does the hyped star want her fans to remember her for?

Paige Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson have been killing it off the floor lately. Hence, it was only fair for the Lady Tiger to bring Paige Buckets to her Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae podcast. Johnson asked Bueckers what she would want her UConn family to remember her for. “Just being resilient. I’ve gone through a lot of stuff since I’ve been at college. Injuries and adversity. But just being resilient, being a winner, being a great teammate, being a great leader. I think being the best teammate I could be is like the most important thing for me,” Paige aptly responded.

While talking about her legacy, she also mentioned what her bigger goal of being a Husky is. She told Johnson, “And just being somebody that would do anything for the program. Rep the program proud like did great things on and off the floor for the communities. Just being a great human being along with being a great basketball player. A lot. All of those.”

Evidently, Paige Bueckers, for one, has her mind set on her UConn legacy as she will leave the Storrs after the 2024-25 season. However, it is not just her thoughts. In fact, the host also climbed up the same stage as her friend.

Flau’jae Johnson commends her high-school idol Paige Bueckers on her NCAA career

Before entering UConn, Bueckers already had four gold medals from various FIBA Americas, World Cups, and Youth Olympic Games. Hence, as one of the most hyped recruits since Breanna Stewart (2012), according to many, the Minnesota native has certainly made her image. Leading the Husky squad from the very beginning, she took UConn to the Final Four in 2021. Consequently, she earned the co-Freshman of the Year award alongside Iowa’s sensation, Caitlin Clark.

So far, she has taken UConn to the Final Four every year she has played, except for 2023, when she was out due to a redshirt season from an ACL tear. Hence, Johnson too could not stop from praising this icon.

She told Paige Bueckers, “I’m gonna say, I’m a fan. I’ve been a fan since high school. Your perseverance, that’s admirable. I’ve never had a major injury but just to see you come back and go 110. That’s admirable. Athletes know the mental barrier that caused them. You come back and it’s no drop off. I respect you. As a friend, I’m proud of you. And I already see you kill this season.”

There have been many players who usually give up after a major injury. Contrastingly, despite having three big health scares in just one year, Paige Bueckers has never thrown the towel. And with her final eligibility year approaching, we can definitely count on this senior to heat up the freezing Storrs.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.