University of Connecticut Athletics
Bueckers Named to The Athletic’s College Sports 40 Under 40
8/23/2022 12:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. – UConn women's basketball junior Paige Bueckers was tabbed to The Athletic's inaugural College Sports 40 Under 40.
The list recognizes the top young coaches, players, executive and influencers changing the college landscape. To be eligible for inclusion, individuals had to be either under the age of 40 or turning 40 before Dec. 31, 2022.
Bueckers was one of six athletes named to the list and at 20 years old, is the third youngest. She set records as the first freshman named National Player of the Year in 2020-21.
The Hopkins, Minn., native has excited basketball fans since her high school days. As a freshman, she led UConn in points, assists, steals and three-point percentage. Bueckers missed 19 games in her sophomore season but returned at the end of the year to lead UConn to the national championship game, the team's first appearance in the title game since 2016.
"When she hits a big shot, she's getting hype, you can see it on her face, you can see when she flexes her little baby muscles," UConn alumna Sue Bird told The Athletic. "There's something infectious about that when you're a fan and watching. When a player has the talent that she has, I think people are going to want to see what she does next."
Bueckers has also been at the forefront of Name, Image & Likeness since it was adopted in 2021.
