Not long ago, Notre Dame snapped UConn’s winning streak in a 79-68 victory. Now, while Paige Bueckers put up an impressive 25 points, it just wasn’t enough to keep her team on top. All that while, Arike Ogunbowale, the Dallas Wings star, was right there in the stands, cheering loudly for her alma mater. But when she met her potential future teammate after the game, she made sure to throw in a little reality check.

They hugged, but Ogunbowale couldn’t resist reminding Paige that UConn didn’t exactly play their best game. “Good win, almost,” she said. We already know that the Dallas Wings hold the first pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, and Paige is widely expected to be the top pick. 

If she lands in Dallas, she’d be joining forces with Arike, strengthening the Wings’ backcourt. But before that happens, the Huskies’ guard still has a full NCAA season ahead. And UConn had been on a roll, winning their first eight games until they faced the Fighting Irish.

The team shot just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, and their defense couldn’t contain Notre Dame’s offense. It was a tough night for the Huskies. So, while Paige was all smiles post-game with the Wings star, you know she had to be feeling the sting of that loss. Meanwhile, Notre Dame was absolutely on fire. 

Hannah Hidalgo led the charge with an impressive 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, proving why she is quietly becoming a fan favorite. Olivia Miles, fighting through an ankle injury, contributed 16 points, and Liatu King also had 16. The Irish were shooting lights out, hitting 10 of 18 from beyond the arc. 

And let’s not forget the key moment when Hidalgo made a clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter, and Notre Dame pulled away early in the fourth, pushing their lead to double digits. Huskies’ failure to adjust to Hidalgo’s perimeter shooting cost them dearly. And the game even exposed Paige’s biggest flaw.

UConn podcaster critiques Paige Bueckers’ performance

Pdcaster Mark Zanetto had a few things to say about Paige Bueckers’ performance in the Huskies’ loss to Notre Dame. Zanetto was quick to point out one glaring issue—Paige didn’t make any threes. “That was an issue for me,” he said bluntly. 

While he acknowledged her usual strong performance, he was hoping for something more. “If we want Mamba Paige, where she just goes ham and says, ‘Clear out, I got this,’ that’s what I wanted to see tonight,” he said. Zanetto’s comments reflect a lot of what fans and analysts expect from Bueckers “sheer dominance.”

He believes that if Paige is truly the best player in the country, sometimes she needs to step up and take over a game. “If you’re the best all-around player, sometimes you have to sacrifice being that efficient player to being the player that dominates the game,” he added. 

But, obviously, it wasn’t just about Paige. The entire team struggled, particularly in the pick-and-roll game. But UConn has bounced back with a solid win against Georgetown, and if they can maintain that momentum, maybe the true “Mamba Paige” will show up in future games. Let’s hope the Huskies stay on track!