“Unfortunately this will not be my last Senior Night here at UConn,” a determined Paige Bueckers spoke on her senior night after the game against Georgetown in February. The Huskies stand out decided to have a go at the Championship title one more time under the mentorship of Geno Auriemma. This just may be one of the biggest examples of Bueckers’ loyalty to the Storrs. And the team too looks to reciprocate the same love to her.

“Happy Bday P-Boogers,” her teammate KK Arnold tagged Bueckers while sharing a collage of her pictures with the Huskies senior star on her Instagram story. She also asked Bueckers to “enjoy your day Big Shark,” and “Live, Laugh, Disbelief.” In the bottom right of the collage she wrote “Love Youuu.” 

Though Arnold’s relationship with Bueckers is relatively new since she is in her sophomore year, she looks to have developed a strong bond. The 19-year-old was one of the prime players, having played 39 games and made it to the 2024 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. Meanwhile, Bueckers would be enjoying this day to the fullest.

Born on October 20, 2023, Bueckers turns 23 years old last night. 1,439.7 miles away from Minnesota, she has found a family in the Huskies as evident in Arnold’s story and Beuckers words themselves, after starting for them since 2020.

“They’re amazing, they’re my family,” she said in 2022 after incurring injury that would lead her to miss the following season. She had even revealed it was her teammates that kept her going in the challenging time. “Having them all back here on campus right now is extremely important for me and my mental state,” she had admitted. The camaraderie only seems to have continued as the teammates rushed in to pour love on the Edna-born.

Paige Bueckers’ teammates wish her a happy birthday

“Happy Birthday to the BDB. Love you,” Allie Ziebell posted a story on Instagram in which she could be seen having a hearty laugh with the birthday girl on the court. Notably, Ziebell is a freshman at UConn and seems to have bonded with Bueckers while practicing with her.

“Happy 23d. I love you BDB,” her teammate Jana El Alfy posted. She made it to the Huskies squad in 2023-24, but could not play for them due to a ruptured Achilles. But that hasn’t stopped her from bonding with Bueckers. She posted many pictures of them in her story, but a Hulk caricature snap seemed to stand out. Looks like Paige Bueckets is as tall as Hulk when she makes a layup.

“Happy Birthday @paigebueckers. Hope you have the best birthday! Love ya P!,” Ashlynn Shade posted. The sophomore was named the 2024 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year last season and this year, she will be looking to continue her on-song performances

“Happy birthday paige,” Morgan Cheli expressed. She is a freshman guard for the Huskies and will be keen to learn a lot from Bueckers as in her absence from next year onwards, Cheli might feature in the starting five. And her closeness to Bueckers only adds to the fact that this chemistry can lead the Huskies to a title.

Happy birthday BDB,” Kaitlyn Chen posted while tagging Bueckers. The picture on her Instagram story was of the birthday girl wearing the celebration cap. Maybe the teammates celebrated her birthday alongside her taking a few minutes off practice.

Hopefully, with this love, the Huskies will be able to show their chemistry on the court, enough to bag another Championship title.