Paige Bueckers has special message from UConn HC Geno Auriemma following Top-Earning Female Athlete of the Year Award

Paige Bueckers is set to lead UConn women's basketball next season after the departure of key players like Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards. She was a key player for the Huskies last season and grabbed the Big East Player of the Year 2024 award.

Last season, Paige Bueckers had many elite NIL deals with big brands like Crocs and Gatorade. As a result, the $1 million NIL-valued (per On3), Bueckers has now won the Top-Earning Female Athlete of the Year Award at the NIL Store Awards.

Upon her victory, she received a special and humorous message from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. In a video, Auriemma was reading from a card and then added his own playful twist to his message.

"I wanna congratulate Paige Bueckers for being the, says here (reading from the card), Top Earning Female Athlete NIL Store," said Geno Auriemma.

"Umm.. though they forgot to write the rest of the stuff here- Top Earning Female Athlete NIL Store except me (he wrote himself) , like total, like not counting NIL. So you've got a long way to go but not a bad start, so congratulations," he added with a smile.

So far, Paige Bueckers has played three seasons for the Huskies, and the next is reportedly going to be her last. She will be eyeing an NCAA title in her last run after failing to do it last year and ending the eight-year drought for the program.

Bueckers averaged 21.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 3.8 apg last season while shooting 53.0%. With a stat line that good, the star guard is expected to fill the void left by the players who transitioned to the WNBA.

Bueckers, who grabbed a gold medal at the Husky Olympics recently, is well aware of the responsibility as she talked about the same during a recent media session.

"It's crazy. Because I feel like I don't have Nika, I don't have Aaliyah. So it's really all on me," she said. "And it's mostly my responsibility. Obviously Aubrey, Azzi, and other upperclassmen but I'm the only one on the court right now. So, I'm taking that responsibility and I'm doing it with pride."

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Paige Bueckers praised Caitlin Clark for bringing eyes to women's basketball

Syndication: Arizona Republic (Photo by IMAGN)

Paige Bueckers and other players like Flau'jae Johnson, Angel Reese, and many more had a huge role to play in popularizing women's basketball last season. However, there was one face who stood out in the process, and it was none other than Iowa's Caitlin Clark.

Paige Bueckers recently talked about Clark's contribution to women's basketball with the media at Storrs.

"I think it's just a high level of basketball. A lot of new eyes are watching and they're impressed with the talent and impressed with the level of physicality. But that's kind of what the league has been. i think Caitlin has brought so many new eyes to the game, and we appreciate that," said Bueckers.

Caitlin Clark, who has now transitioned to the WNBA as a No. 1 pick by Indiana Fever, averaged 31.6 ppg last season and broke many records.