“I wish Paige Bueckers had more of that mentality”: UConn star takes a “backseat” to freshman Sarah Strong, according to hoops content creator

UConn guard Paige Bueckers is soaking in her fourth and potentially final collegiate stint as she is set to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft. Through her senior campaign, Bueckers is averaging 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per contest through 12 games played.

This year however, besides her, the Huskies have a budding standout in freshman Sarah Strong who has already been named to several Big East Player and Freshman of the Week nods. With this, there have been some speculations on whether or not Strong is slowly overshadowing Bueckers as UConn's true go-to option.

Among the ones looking into the matter is basketball content creator Rachel Demita, who called out Bueckers in her YouTube video entitled, "Juju Watkins DOMINATES Against UConn.. But A NEW Star Emerges!?"

"It almost feels as if sometimes, she's taking a backseat to their freshman Sarah Strong," Demita said. "There is a sort of aggression and just confidence in herself (Strong) that she has. She is okay, even being at UConn as a freshman, one of the powerhouses in women's basketball. Sarah Strong is already ready to try to take over games. She already has that mentality." (5:03)

"I wish that Paige had more of that mentality because there is nobody on UConn who is more skilled than Paige. There truly isn't even when we talk about Sarah," Demita added.

Against the USC Trojans, Strong had 22 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, four swipes and a block. While Bueckers (22 points, three rebounds and two assists) did match her in points, she didn't do much damage anywhere else.

UConn has already fallen twice this season, against high-profile opponents USC and Notre Dame. For a team that hopes to win the NCAA national championship it last won in 2016, it appears like Bueckers will have to constantly ensure that she and Strong are producing every night.

They can attempt to build more on their chemistry after the holiday break against the Providence Friars on Sunday.

Rachel Demita wants Paige Bueckers-Caitlin Clark comparisons to stop

Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark last season. - Source: Kirby Lee, Imagn

As with how sensational Paige Bueckers is to the women's basketball fanbase, there have always been comparisons with her and former Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark. For Rachel Demita, however, she thinks that the two are incomparable but are great in their own right.

"I don't think we're focusing on the right things when it comes to Paige's game. Her game is not like Caitlin Clark. It's not the same style. They don't truly play the same position," she said. (4:10)

Bueckers is expected to be the top choice in next year's WNBA Draft. With her own journey on and off the court, she is forging her own identity and image.