Paige Bueckers, UConn Women Clinch National Championship in Historic Fashion

Gianna Monaco ‘27
It was Bleeding Blue in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team had just won the national title after routing Dawn Staley’s star-studded South Carolina team 82-59. The dynamic and dominant trio of Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong led the Huskies to their 12th national title, the most in NCAA basketball history – men or women.
It had taken the UConn women a long time to reach this point, after enduring a nine-year championship drought. The 2025 title wasn’t just a victory—it was a redemption story years in the making.
In recent years, the program has dealt with a series of setbacks, from an unexpected pandemic to devastating injuries. The players have experienced over 12 season-ending injuries since Bueckers’ sophomore year, including ACL tears, concussions, back surgeries, and broken bones. Despite all odds, the Huskies remained resilient. 
Bueckers, who had yet to add a championship to her already impressive list of collegiate accolades, finally affirmed her spot among the all-time greats of women's college basketball. As the face of the UConn team in March Madness, she had faced numerous obstacles in her college career – including a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear during her sophomore season, followed by an ACL tear just four months later.
Head Coach Geno Auriemma hit the nail on the head: "[Bueckers'] journey…has been the most incredible for any kid I've had." Bueckers rose to every challenge she faced on and off the court. Her teammates described her in one interview as compassionate, loyal, funny, and yes, childish. That unshakable bond, and their shared love for the game, gave them the motivation that all other teams lacked to win.
In the final showdown in Tampa, the Huskies didn’t just show up — they dominated. 
Led by Final Four Most Outstanding Player Azzi Fudd, UConn closed the first half with a 10-point lead. But it was not until the third quarter that UConn truly sealed the deal, with Big East Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong and Paige “Buckets” Bueckers combining for 23 of the team’s 26 points. The Huskies, capitalizing on the Gamecocks' mistakes, were able to finish the quarter on an efficient 12-3 run. With 1:32 left in the game, Auriemma subbed out Fudd, Strong, and Bueckers, who each hugged Auriemma and the rest of the coaching staff, receiving a standing ovation from the fans in Amalie Arena. 
The Huskies played a phenomenal game collectively, but three players stood out: Strong, Fudd, and Bueckers. Strong’s 24-point, 15-rebound performance made her the first freshman in history to post 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in a national championship title game. Strong also racked up 114 points, a record for any freshman in the NCAA Tournament, marking another significant milestone in her very young career. 
Fudd showcased an impressive range of scoring and defensive abilities. Despite going just 1-for-7 beyond the arc, Fudd found her shots elsewhere. Upon making the Sweet 16, Husky Nation was pleasantly surprised when Fudd announced via social media her intent to return to Storrs, Connecticut, for the 2025-2026 season. 
After the game, Bueckers noted, “it’s been a story of resilience, gratitude of overcoming adversity and responding to life’s challenges…I wouldn't trade it for the world.” Bueckers, her collegiate career now complete with a little extra bling, marked her final game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. It will not be her last minute on the court, nor the number of points she scored that night that defines her legacy, but the impact she leaves on her teammates, coaches, and the program after five incredible years at the University of Connecticut.
Geno Auriemma is not a crier. He is neither flashy nor loud. He is, however, a winner. The all-time winningest coach in college basketball called the 2025 finale “one of the most emotional national championships I've been a part of since that very first.” He choked out the heartfelt sentiment with tears in his eyes, a rare moment, and one true basketball fans will never forget.
Winning a championship was the only way he could have imagined ending his record-setting 40th season with UConn. And yet, Auriemma continues to build a dynasty shaped by legends like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and Maya Moore. 
This title won’t be the last. With stars like Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold returning, and incoming recruits like Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel on the way, the future of UConn women’s basketball is as bright as ever.