“She ate them right up”: Paige Bueckers and KK Arnold hype up  Ashlynn Shade after preseason photoshoot

After a successful rookie run, Ashlynn Shade is returning for her second season with the UConn Huskies. During UConn's Final Four run, Shade emerged as one of the team's top performers, following stars like Paige Bueckers, Nika Muhl and Aaliyah Edwards.

On Friday, the guard posted images from her media day photo shoot with the caption:

"In honor of First Night!!!"

Paige Bueckers and KK Arnold hyped Ashlynn Shade up in the comments.

"EAT EM UP ASH," Arnold wrote.

"She ate them right up," Bueckers commented.

Bueckers also reposted Shade's post on her Instagram story.

Paige Bueckers' Instagram story and comment (Credit: Instagram/@paigebueckers, @therealashlynn12)

Ashlynn Shade is 'hungrier than ever' in her sophomore year

In a season plagued by injuries, Ashlynn Shade rose to be a key player for coach Geno Auriemma, starting 33 of 38 games. She was third in UConn in scoring as she averaged 11 points in 31.3 minutes and shot 48.1% from the floor.

Looking back on her first season, the Big East Freshman of the Year said (per Hartford Courant):

“It was definitely a huge accomplishment, especially in my freshman year – just to see what we were able to accomplish with what we had and the circumstances we were put through throughout the season."

"It’s something to look back on like that was really cool, but it’s also something that kind of haunts you a little bit and this season you’re even hungrier and you want to go out and compete even harder.”

In her sophomore season, Ashlynn Shade may see reduced playing time as UConn added three freshman recruits, including No. 1 player Sarah Strong and Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen. The guard, however, is not worried about it.

“It’s even more exciting, it’s going to be amazing to have everyone back, everyone on the court,” Shade said. “It’s not something I’m overthinking, like ‘What’s my role going to be?’ We’re all going to go out, we’re all going to compete, and we each contribute in our own way."

“I’m just excited to be on the court with Azzi (Fudd), Caroline (Ducharme), all of them, because I didn’t get to experience that my freshman year. It’s going to be so much fun when we all can be together, practice together, play together.”

The urgency for UConn to win a championship is even higher, as this is the final college season for Paige Bueckers. The Huskies begin their 2024-25 season on Nov. 3 against Fort Hays State.