Paige Bueckers announces WNBA Draft decision—but the real shock came elsewhere! “Paige Bueckers confirmed to us today that she will enter the 2025 @WNBA Draft,” penned Rebecca Lobo on X, solidifying what many had speculated. UConn’s No. 5 was making her final NCAA Tournament run. That meant one thing: this was the last chance for fans to witness her brilliance on college basketball’s biggest stage. And they did—but not in the way UConn or ESPN had hoped.

Instead of tuning in through traditional broadcasts, thousands of fans flocked to YouTube, watching the game live for free—illegally. In an era where streaming dominates, the fact that people sought out these unofficial sources isn’t surprising. But what is shocking? The sheer number of viewers doing so. Those unauthorized streams pulled in thousands of live spectators at a time, potentially costing ESPN millions in lost viewership.

This is an especially painful blow considering ESPN’s recent $920 million media rights deal. Last September, the network renewed its contract for all NCAA championships, bundling men’s and women’s tournaments in a package that valued the women’s basketball tournament alone at $65 million annually—double its previous valuation. It seemed like a no-brainer.

But, the numbers backed it up. The Elite Eight clash between LSU and Iowa last year—Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate meeting—drew an average of 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched college hoops game in history. And then, the Iowa-UConn semifinal took it even further. 14.2 million people tuned in, making it the most-watched basketball game—college or pro—in ESPN history.

With those kinds of figures, ESPN likely expected Bueckers’ Sweet 16 showdown against No. 3 seed Oklahoma to continue the trend. After all, this was “Paige Buckets” we’re talking about—the Twin Cities Titan, whose fanbase had already made waves earlier this season.

Need proof? Look at UConn’s February matchup against USC and JuJu Watkins. That game pulled 2.2 million viewers, making it the second most-watched women’s game on FOX ever, even peaking at 3.76 million viewers in the first quarter before the numbers dipped.

Or take UConn vs. South Dakota State. A non-marquee matchup? Sure. But it still delivered 1.7 million viewers on ESPN—an undeniably strong showing.

With that in mind, there’s no doubt Bueckers’ Sweet 16 game had the potential to set new records. But instead, thousands of potential viewers were locked into YouTube streams, depriving ESPN of a chance to cash in on the Huskies’ superstar. Still, for those who did watch, they were treated to a performance for the ages.

Paige Bueckers’ last dance: a march madness masterpiece before the WNBA draft? 

As No. 5 took the floor, there was no hesitation—she had one goal: carry UConn to its fifth straight Elite Eight. The Huskies trailed 36-33 at halftime, but what happened next? Bueckers erupted for 29 points after halftime, surpassing her previous career-best of 34 points, which she had just set in the second round against South Dakota State.

But she wasn’t done. She torched Oklahoma for 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting, setting a new career-high and further cementing her name in UConn’s record books. Her 40-point explosion helped the Huskies outscore the Sooners 27-10 in the third quarter, flipping the script on a team that had been a perfect 22-0 when leading at halftime this season.

But ask Bueckers about it, and she’ll tell you it’s not about her. “It really is not about me,” she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe postgame when asked about her rising place in UConn history.

With that, Bueckers moved up to No. 4 on UConn’s all-time scoring list, surpassing legends Katie Lou Samuelson (2,342) and Tina Charles (2,346). The only names left ahead of her? Maya Moore (3,036), Breanna Stewart (2,676), and Napheesa Collier (2,401).

Her coach, however, had a different reaction.

“I think it’s better. But there are times where she has the ball, and the defense knows she’s not gonna shoot it. And I’m thinking, ‘Shoot it! You’re open!’” Geno Auriemma told Rowe. “So hopefully in the fourth quarter, she’ll just… I don’t know. Maybe you should talk to her!”

There’s no doubt this game had all the ingredients to be a ratings monster: UConn, a historic program. Bueckers, a generational talent. A thrilling comeback. A 40-piece performance from one of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball.

And yet, thanks to YouTube, we may never know just how high the numbers could have gone. So, did the unauthorized streams play a role in diminishing viewership? Absolutely.