UConn’s Paige Bueckers once sent powerful post-defeat text to coach after Final Four loss against Caitlin Clark-led Iowa

Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies saw their 2024 women's college basketball season end in heartbreak. They suffered a narrow loss in the Final Four to the Iowa Hawkeyes, who were led by superstar point guard Caitlin Clark.

Trailing by six in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the Huskies cut the lead to within one thanks to a field goal from Aaliyah Edwards and a 3-pointer from Nika Muhl. However, an offensive foul on Edwards in the dying seconds of the game ended any hopes of completing a comeback, with the game finishing 71-69 in Iowa's favor.

Recently, Bueckers' trainer Darren McLinton, who is also the CEO of the McLinton Basketball Academy, shared a message that she sent him following that loss to Iowa. He also praised her mentality and work during the off-season, while sending a message to her competition in 2025.

"@paigebueckers The night of your Final Four loss to Iowa, we texted right after your presser. You said 'Back to work' and we discussed the plan and adjustments we were going to make this offseason," McLinton said in a post on Instargram.

"We stuck to that plan and worked tirelessly to BecomeAMachine™️ And to the rest of the world… Watch this!!! WNPWOM!™️," he added.

Bueckers gave a crisp response to her trainer's message a short while later:

"Straight to it! My guy."

Paige Bueckers chose UConn over 2024 WNBA draft

Alongside Clark and LSU Tigers star Angel Reese, Bueckers was considered one of the top prospects and a guaranteed first-round pick in this year's WNBA draft. While Clark and Reese were drafted by the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, respectively, Bueckers chose to stay in Connecticut for another season in college basketball.

Paige Bueckers forewent the WNBA draft to play another season with the UConn Huskies.

Bueckers chose to do so because she felt she wasn't done just yet, while admitting she didn't want her time with the Huskies to end.

She finished the 2024 season shooting 53.6% from the field, 40.3% from 3-point range and 83.8% from the free-throw line. She also averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, which earned her the Big East Player of the Year Award and First-Team All-American honors.

Bueckers will be keen on ending her college basketball career on a high in 2025 before heading to the WNBA next year, where she will be expected to feature among the top picks in next year's draft.