BREAKING NEWS: Paige Bueckers Sets Her Sights on Caitlin Clark as Pressure Mounts at UConn, Highlighting Intense Rivalry and Expectations for Both Players .giang

Paige Bueckers, the UConn basketball sensation, was everywhere this summer, from the U.S. Open to WNBA games, even tossing the first pitch at a Minnesota Twins game.

But now, with the season’s tip-off on the horizon, Bueckers is zeroing in on her final college year and the elusive national title for her storied team. Bueckers is widely expected to be the biggest star in women’s college basketball this year, filling the void left by Caitlin Clark after her move to the WNBA.

“I have loved my entire time at UConn,” Bueckers said at Big East media day event at Madison Square Garden. “I can’t imagine it coming to an end so I try not to worry about the past, I don’t try to worry about the future, I try to stay where I am.”

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The prodigious guard, who made history as the first freshman to be named AP national player of the year in 2021, has battled through injuries that sidelined her for more than a season. Yet she bounced back last season with impressive stats to propel the Huskies to the Final Four.

Despite the option to go pro, Bueckers announced in February her decision to return, bringing her resilience, leadership, and clutch performance to the court as she celebrated her 23rd birthday earlier this month. “I think she feels it,” coach Geno Auriemma said.

“She is at practice and she is doing some things at practice that haven’t happened much in the four years that she has been here. In the past, she might defer to you or to you and I don’t see that happening on the defensive end or on the offensive end. She is just taking on, ‘I don’t want to leave any stone unturned.'”

With seasoned players Azzi Fudd, Caroline Ducharme, and Aubrey Griffin recovering from injuries, Bueckers, a preseason AP All-American for the third time, often practices with first or second-year UConn players.

Auriemma wants the younger players to step up and not rely so heavily on Bueckers. During a recent practice, six consecutive baskets were scored – none by Bueckers – and both she and Auriemma want to see more of this as the season kicks off.

“She knows that this is her last year and you can definitely feel that love, that passion and drive every day in practice,” said sophomore guard Ashlynn Shade. “She holds everybody accountable, making sure we are locked in and playing to the best of our ability to accomplish that goal that we have.”

UConn is ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP Top 25 and was unanimously chosen to win the Big East. Whether speaking to rival coaches or players, it’s clear how much respect Bueckers commands in the sport, and she remains a familiar face amid women’s basketball’s rising popularity. Creighton senior guard Morgan Maly highlighted the challenges of dealing with Bueckers, noting how she plays the game at her own pace.

Villanova coach Denise Dillon praised Bueckers’ prowess with glowing admiration. “I have said for years that I think Paige Bueckers is the best player in the game,” Dillon said. “Paige is off the charts with her skill set and her ability to play the game on both ends of the floor, it is impressive. From her freshman year, I thought she was the best player out there and here we are how many years later, and my thoughts haven’t changed.”

As UConn gears up for the upcoming season, starting on November 7 against Boston University, the team is pitched against four top-10 outfits. With a deep roster, the Huskies are gunning for their 12th national title, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2016 despite coming close as the national runner-up in 2022.

A personal note from bubbling talent Bueckers reflects her gratitude and humility towards the game. “I feel like I am living my childhood dream so I never want to take it for granted,” Bueckers said. “I am not entitled to anything, I am not sure what each day will bring so I am trying to embrace the moment and have fun. It is my first healthy offseason where I got to enjoy it and I got to do a lot of things and be in one place rehabbing.”

Bueckers is prepared to give it her all this season, potentially achieving her long-awaited goal. “If they want to say that she is the best guard to ever play basketball, she is going to show you that,” Auriemma said. “If they say, she is overhyped, they are going to see that too. She is going to play great, she is going to have some unbelievable moments and she is going to have some down moments. I think Paige is somebody that everybody is going to watch.”

Meanwhile, Bueckers herself shared her championship dream. “With all the adversity and all the hardships, it would mean everything to cap it off,” she expressed.