"National championship or bust": Paige Bueckers drops her expectations before final push with UConn

Even before her first game of the season, Paige Bueckers is assumed to be the top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. The UConn star is focused on lifting her first NCAA title and leading the Huskies to their first national championship since 2016. It was the main reason behind her decision to postpone her WNBA entry this summer.

When Bueckers was asked about her mindset at the Media Day event on Wednesday, the guard gave a staunch preview of her season.

"Obviously I feel a sense of urgency," Buckers shared with SNY's Chelsea Sherrod. "It's definitely National Championship or bust. That's always been the case here at UConn."

Bueckers also reflected on the importance of cherishing the journey and other parts of her last collegiate season.

"But just not focusing on that, focusing on winning every single day we have in front of us, winning our practice, winning in the weight room, just enjoying each other's company, embracing it, taking no day for granted."

"Every single day I get to wake up, it's one day closer to my career being over. It's crazy when you put it that way, which makes you want to enjoy it, embrace it, and have a whole bunch of fun."

Geno Auriemma wants Paige Bueckers to be selfish with the ball

When the UConn Huskies’ season concluded against Iowa last year, Geno Auriemma pointed out that Bueckers need to be more aggressive and selfish with the ball.

Paige Bueckers took the coach’s advice to heart, sparking a shift in mindset this summer. Despite having multiple players who can play at point guard in UConn's first scrimmage this month, Bueckers was constantly handling the ball in the scrimmage and taking more shots than usual.

"A huge thing this summer was a complete shift in mindset," Bueckers said after practice. "Obviously, having the game I did in the Final Four wasn't what I wanted to have, and I think it really set in and it really stung me in a different type of way where I had a reality check."

Bueckers is coming off her best college season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 steals on 53.0% shooting from the floor and 41.6% from the arc.