She was a phenom right from the beginning. And her accolades are proof. Be it the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, or even Freshman of the Year, she had it all, thanks to her staggering 20 points per game average. However, her impact was limited until 2022 when she encountered a major setback.
While playing pickup at Werth Champions Center, she was running at full speed when she tried to stop. At that moment, her left leg just gave out. “I knew it was bad. I felt a pop. I’m not really sure if I heard it, but I felt it for sure,” she shared with Sporting News. The 23-year-old Huskies standout was right. After a day of initial testing, Bueckers was confirmed to have an ACL tear in her left knee, which would cost her the entire 2022-2023 season.
“At first, it was devastating. Like, why did this happen to me?” Bueckers shared. The news was so crushing that it wasn’t made public until two days later, giving Bueckers time to process it. But there was something that helped Bueckers sail through. No, it wasn’t a person but a Gospel song that fueled her to overcome her fears. “Thank You for It All by Marvin Sapp,…You thank God for it all, like the good, bad, the ugly, the big, and the small, you thank Him for it all,“ revealed Bueckers in a recent episode of NBC Sports’ Got Next with Meghan and Zora.
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USA Today via Reuters Mar 25, 2024; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after her basket against the Syracuse Orange in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
For her, it was the lyrics of the song that she learned and which motivated her to look at things differently. “It’s all a part of my journey I feel like the injury too. I could have looked at it like, why not? Why can’t I come back from this injury even better? Why can’t I shape this to better me for my future?” she added. Looking at the glass as half full, Bueckers never actually lost hope.
But, when going through lows you also need to smile a bit to enjoy life to the fullest. And, that’s what Bueckers next Gospel song’s for. “Smile by Kirk Franklin…Just smiling just enjoying life just everything that you’ve worked for everything that came your way just enjoying it. “ revealed Buckers as one of the songs she listens to when celebrating.
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But the song wasn’t the only support system she had.
A lesser-known fact is that Bueckers read heavily to stay motivated throughout her injury experience. She read devotionals, books, and even quotations for inspiration. In fact, she often looked at Kobe Bryant and thought about how he never dwelled on his injuries. Still, reading didn’t entirely fill the void.
That gap was filled by her faith and the rest of UConn’s roster, especially those who had been in similar situations like Caroline Ducharme, Aubrey Griffin, Azzi Fudd, and even Dorka Juhasz. The Huskies sensation admits it herself, “It’s been a process, but I feel like I’ve handled it pretty well…I think it’s only up from here.”
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Fast forward to her returning back healthy, she has been in full form, probably better than ever before. She had an impressive average of 21.8 points with 5.1 rebounds per game last season for the Huskies as she took them to the Elite Eight round. Not just that, she even had a staggering 54.0% accuracy from the field and 41% from the three-point range.
Even now, she’s one of the vital players leading UConn vying for a championship title under Geno Auriemma, the head coach, in her fifth year of eligibility. Stacking up 17.5 ppg with a stellar 73.7% shooting from the field, Bueckers is all set to accomplish one thing that has somehow left her every season. Will she be able to hit the bull’s eye? Only time will tell. But we know she will have music to get her through the difficult times.