"Thank you for being a light and inspiration": UConn's Paige Buckers remembers Abigail Zittoun after her death

UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers is mourning the death of one of the biggest fans of the program, Abigail Zittoun. The 11-year-old from Hartford, Connecticut, was seen with the team a few times during practice and games.

On Tuesday, Zittoun died after a long battle with cancer. Bueckers shared some of her memories with the young fan on her Instagram story on Thursday.

"Thank you for being a light and inspiration to everyone around you. Abby strong forever," Bueckers wrote.

"Our +1 forever and always," she added in another story.

Paige Bueckers' Instagram stories for Abigail (Credits: Instagram/@paigebueckers)

Abigail Zittoun had also been a regular attendee at UConn coach, Geno Auriemma's charity event, "Geno for the Kids." The event supports the Connecticut Children's Medical Center's cancer program.

Several UConn players like Nika Muhl, Caroline Ducharme and Paige Bueckers visited Zittoun in the hospital and supported her during her battle with cancer.

“I’m a really big UConn fan,” Abby said (via Republican American Archives). “They have a really amazing team, and I love the way they always bounce back. If they lose a game, they find a way to come right back and win again.”

After many years of being a fan of the UConn Huskies and dropping by for their practice, Zittoun had built a close relationship with the players and she named former Huskies guard Evina Westbrook her favorite.

“She is really sweet and she always makes sure everyone on the team is really happy and having a great time,” Abby said. “When we went to the practice in Storrs she gave me her number so we could keep in touch.”

Caroline Ducharme mourns the loss of Abigail Zittoun

Since joining the UConn Huskies in 2021, Caroline Ducharme had visited Abigail Zittoun at the Connecticut Children's Hospital and at coach Geno Auriemma's charity event.

On Wednesday, Ducharme shared photos with Zittoun on Instagram and reminisced on their time together.

"You changed my life more than you could ever know," she wrote in the caption. "I love you to the moon and back beautiful. keep smiling, watching Gilmore Girls and rest in the sweetest peace angel 😇❤️"

Ducharme played four games last season before being sidelined with head and neck injuries. While she is expected to play in the 2024-25 season, the timeline for her return is yet to be decided.