“Im tryna work for it”: UConn star Paige Bueckers ignites drive to be at the top during college basketball offseason

College basketball icon Paige Bueckers is generating a lot of buzz at the moment, The UConn star has been making the most of her offseason break and was in the house to watch Team USA take on Team WNBA at the All-Star event on Saturday.

During the All-Star weekend, Bueckers also appeared on the Nike x WNBA This is Winning Basketball live show, where she discussed her motivation for the game.

"I know I'm not at the top, at the peak of my performance. I'm not anywhere where I wanna be. So. I'm always motivated by that, always motivated by wanting to win. I haven't won a national championship. So. I'm trying to get there. I'm tryna work for it," Paige Bueckers said.

"It's super motivating when you go to UConn, you only think of one thing, that's winning national championships and you get to do it, so that's been motivating me a lot. And just for me coming back from injury being inspired people that injury doesn't have to be the end of your career, doesn't have to be labeled don't put the box you can be great come back even better."

Paige Bueckers, a projected top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, is back from a serious injury. In August 2022, ahead of her junior season, she sustained a torn ACL in her left knee during a practice game, which left her out of action for the entire 2022-23 season.

A year later, in August 2023, Bueckers announced her clearance to return to full basketball activity. She played her first game after recovering from a knee injury in a win against Dayton in November, where she made eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. She finished the season with 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Huskies.

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Paige Bueckers' father is optimistic about daughter's career

Paige Bueckers' father Bob Bueckers is a former high school basketball player. After her parents separated when she was three, Bueckers was raised by Bob.

"It has been surreal, but I think if she continues to stay true to herself, there are no boundaries for where she can go," Bob said in January 2022.

"Obviously health plays a big part in that as an athlete. But even if she wasn’t an athlete, if she stays true to herself, which I believe she is doing and is really engrained in her entire personality, she’s going to be an agent of change.”

Bob Bueckers, who works as a software developer, played point guard in high school. He was the first coach Paige had as she grew up and learned from him. The six-foot UConn guard will play her final year of college basketball in the upcoming season.