“Breanna Stewart said that, Sue Bird said that”: NCAA analyst talks about Paige Bueckers’ “all time great” status if she doesn’t win NCAA title 

The conversation surrounding Paige Bueckers and her legacy in women’s college basketball continues to evolve, fueled by remarks from UConn coach Geno Auriemma and NCAA analyst Robin Lundberg. On Friday, Auriemma addressed the question of whether Bueckers needs a national championship to solidify her status as an all-time great.

A reporter asked Auriemma where he would rank Paige Bueckers among the players he has coached, and he quickly challenged the notion that a national championship is required to be considered an "all-time great.”

"This notion that you have to win a national championship or multiple national championships to be considered a generational type player or amazing type player. It's not true," Auriemma said. "There are a lot of great players that have had amazing careers that have never won a national championship."

Lundberg echoed Auriemma’s perspective, agreeing in principle and emphasizing the importance of context when evaluating a player’s impact and accomplishments. However, Auriemma’s perspective has sparked debate, especially in light of past comments from UConn legends like Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird, both of whom have emphasized the importance of winning a championship to solidify a player’s place among the all-time greats.

These conflicting narratives have added fuel to the ongoing conversation about Bueckers’ career trajectory, further complicated by Auriemma’s earlier comments about other high-profile players, such as Caitlin Clark.

“It did cause a little bit of uproar of course,” Lundberg said. “Because of the previous comments that Geno Auriemma made about Caitlin Clark's transition to the WNBA. Speaking about her being delusional or her fans expecting her to dominate at the WNBA level, activated her fans and then of course what previous UConn greats have said most recently." [0:35 onwards]

"Breanna Stewart said that, Sue Bird said that, I don't know if Geno actually said that. Them saying that feels like the goal post is shifting.”

For Paige Bueckers, the stakes have always been high. From the moment she stepped onto the court for UConn, she was heralded as the program’s next great player. This heightened anticipation has brought immense pressure, especially given UConn’s storied history of championships.

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Paige Bueckers reflects on historic 2,000 career points in UConn’s dominant victory

On Sunday, during the second quarter of the UConn Huskies' overwhelming 96-36 win over Seton Hall, star player Paige Bueckers reached a historic milestone by scoring the 2,000th point of her collegiate career. The remarkable achievement made Bueckers the fastest player in UConn program history to hit this mark, doing so in just 102 games.

Bueckers is the 12th player in the program’s history to achieve the 2,000-point milestone. After the game, Bueckers reflected on this accomplishment in an interview. She attributed her success to the support she has received throughout her basketball journey.

“It means everything, but it takes a village,” Bueckers said. “I did not get here by myself. The people, everybody who has invested in me and stayed with me. I've had a tough journey, but it has been a beautiful journey.”

Bueckers’ road to 2,000 points has been anything but easy. Plagued by injuries that sidelined her for extended periods in previous seasons. She highlighted the often unseen hard work and dedication that made her success possible.

“I've seen so many people invest a lot and do a lot for me, and I just really want to reward their hard work,” Paige Bueckers said. “Everybody sees the 2,000 points, but nobody sees the 2,000 days of hard work. It’s just a testimony to everybody who has invested in me.”

Bueckers’ achievement is not only a personal triumph but also a reflection of the unwavering support from her coaches, teammates, and loved ones.