Faculty basketball is dropping its greatest stars.
Connecticut star Paige Buckers has formally declared for the WNBA draft.
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Bueckers knowledgeable ESPN of her choice on Friday afternoon forward of Uconn’s Candy 16 sport towards Oklahoma.
There was hypothesis on whether or not or not Bueckers would discover different choices exterior the WNBA, however these rumors had been put to relaxation.
ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo had the report.
“Paige Bueckers confirmed to us at present that she is going to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. (Some had urged she wouldn’t declare, play in Unmatched, after which declare in 2026.),” Lobo wrote on X.
Bueckers is averaging 19.2 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and a pair of.1 steals this season, with capturing splits of .542/.411/.902.
In different phrases, she goes to be the highest choose of the draft and the Dallas Wings will take her with the primary total choose.
However first, Bueckers has unfinished enterprise together with her Uconn Huskies as they appear to take house the nationwide title for the primary time since 2016.
The star guard additionally spoke to the media and shared her assist for JuJu Watkins, who tore her ACL in USC’s second spherical win over Mississippi State earlier this week.
Bueckers and Watkins are two of the largest stars within the sport.
“Sick to my abdomen,” Bueckers mentioned.
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“Devastation clearly. You simply empathize for her…
“We have exchanged numbers now, so we’re locked in.
“No matter she wants mentally, bodily, must vent, ask questions.
“It is a lengthy course of and also you study loads about your self.”
Bueckers can relate to Watkins, as a result of she additionally suffered a torn ACL, forward of her junior season that worn out a whole yr.
And simply earlier than that, she had fractured her knee which required in-season surgical procedure the yr prior.
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If anybody is aware of what it takes to bounce again from a crippling damage and return higher than ever, it is Bueckers.
The timeline for Watkins’ restoration is unclear, however the damage will certainly maintain her out subsequent season, which can then require a call from the star on whether or not she desires to show professional or come again to high school and assist lead the Trojans to a nationwide title.
Whereas questions stay for Watkins and her future, the stage is ready for Bueckers.
We all know what her future holds.
That is it for her in a Uconn uniform. The fifth-year senior’s time is up.
She is 4 wins away from bringing the title again to Storrs, Connecticut.
It is now or by no means for Bueckers.
It is on her to complete what she began all these years in the past.
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