“Oh my God, Paige!” Paige Bueckers is in what could be her final year at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, and she’s determined to make it unforgettable, creating lasting memories with her teammates. While her championship aspirations are still uncertain, she recently reached a historic milestone with Nike, and the announcement of it made Bueckers the Santa Claus of the UConn locker room—delivering an early Christmas surprise.

The UConn#5 guard became the first name, image, and likeness (NIL) athlete to design and launch a player edition sneaker, with the Nike brand debuting Bueckers’ Nike G.T. Hustle 3 on coming Saturday. For fans, the announcement was monumental, but it held an even deeper meaning for her teammates.

UConn shared a heartwarming moment on social media, where Bueckers, with excitement in her voice, opened the locker room door and said, “Nike and the team have a gift! It’s for everybody.”

When Bueckers delivered the exciting news, her teammates, including KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd, couldn’t contain their excitement. One of them even shouted, “Oh my God, Paige!” The locker room buzzed with energy as each player discovered their personalized gift.

Inside a bucket marked with Bueckers’ name innovatively highlighting her beloved nickname “Bucket,” they found a hoodie, a tee, a pair of headphones, a basketball, and, of course, the glittering Nike shoes—each piece carrying the exclusive Bueckers edition imprint. Well, none of this would have been possible without Bueckers achieving that historic milestone with Nike.

Paige Bueckers makes history with Nike

The senior guard projected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft this April, is making history. She will be the first collegiate athlete to design and release her own shoe through a NIL deal with Nike. The player edition, called the Nike G.T. Hustle 3, will hit the shelves on Saturday, December 7. Bueckers will proudly wear the shoe throughout her senior season at UConn.

For Bueckers, wearing her own signature shoe is an incredibly motivating experience. “I grew up wearing Nikes—all the signature shoes—so it’s surreal to have this Player Edition model. I just want to show out in it,” she stated. The Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Player Edition is filled with personal touches that reflect Bueckers’ journey.

The shoe features her favorite colors—baby blue and lavender—prominently throughout. On the left tongue, you’ll find the area codes for both the University of Connecticut and her hometown of Edina, Minnesota. The right tongue showcases an embroidered “bucket,” a nod to her nickname “Buckets,” and the right heel proudly displays the word “Buckets” as well. The most personal detail, however, is the quote on her left heel: “Be You, Be Great,” a mantra her dad shares with her before every game.

As Bueckers’ senior season continues, her historic achievement with Nike not only marks a milestone in her career but

also strengthens her legacy, inspiring both her teammates and future generations of athletes.