“That’s what UConn is all about”: Paige Bueckers takes pride from her bad game vs Louisville

Paige Bueckers remained proud despite her struggles against Louisville. The No. 2 Huskies dominated the No. 22 Cardinals with an impressive 85-52 victory on Saturday.

Bueckers entered the Women's Champions Classic at Barclays Center averaging 20.4 points per game. However, she had a tough shooting night in front of the 9,000 fans in Brooklyn, going 2-of-11 from the field and finishing with eight points. Despite her shooting struggles, she contributed by making 3-of-4 free throws, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists.

Three of her teammates stepped up in response to her off night, reaching double figures. Sarah Strong led all starters with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists, shooting an efficient 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Azzi Fudd contributed 18 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Ashlynn Shade led the bench with 13 points and four rebounds.

In the postgame interview, Paige Bueckers reflected on the outcome, emphasizing her team’s collective strength rather than her performance.

"I think I've done well. Again, it's all about reading what the game is giving," Bueckers said. "Last game, we played a tremendous team game, and I scored 8 points (on) 2 for 11 from the field.

"But that's what UConn is all about. When somebody has a bad game, it's anybody's night on any given night. So not forcing it, just continuing to read what the defense is giving me, and... play within the offense, play within the action, get myself (going) that way."

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Bueckers has been experiencing a slight scoring slump. In the game before Louisville, she managed just 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting against Holy Cross but contributed with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Despite this dip, she remains a key contributor in her redshirt senior season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She maintains solid shooting percentages at 56.3% from the field, 42.1% from 3-point range and 79.2% from the free-throw line for the undefeated Huskies (8-0).

Bueckers aims to rediscover her scoring rhythm on the road as UConn faces No. 8 Notre Dame on Thursday at Purcell Pavilion.

Paige Bueckers unveils new signature shoe at Women’s Champions Classic

Paige Bueckers made history as the first NIL athlete to launch a Nike Player Edition shoe, showcasing her Nike GT Hustle 3 PE during the Women’s Champions Classic at the Barclays Center this weekend.

Several of Bueckers' teammates also wore the blue and purple sneakers during Saturday's matchup against Louisville. Priced at $190, the shoes were released to the public on Saturday morning via Nike's website and select retailers, with half the sizes selling out within an hour.

"Having my own shoe is a huge motivator," Bueckers said. "I grew up wearing Nikes, especially the signature lines, so it feels surreal to have a Player Edition of my own. I just want to play my best in them."

Paige Bueckers' partnership with Nike, announced in September 2023 before her junior year, makes her the first college athlete to design a Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Player Edition.