Paige Bueckers is back home in Minnesota as she enjoys a short break from her offseason training. The UConn guard posted pictures while spending time with her younger brother, Drew, as the two went fishing together.
On Tuesday night, Bueckers got into game mode, however, this time it was for baseball. Her home team, the Minnesota Twins, took on the Kansas City Royals at Target Field in Minneapolis and the guard was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch.
With the college basketball season just two months away, Paige Bueckers has been training hard in hopes of leading the Huskies to a championship. The pressure is on, as the upcoming season is her final chance to win the title as she will move to the WNBA next.
“There’s a much larger sense of urgency,” Bueckers said to The Athletic. “This is my last year to get what I came here for, which is a national championship. … No more ‘Passive Paige.’”
This has been her first healthy offseason as she struggled with ACL injuries in the previous years. In last year's campaign, Bueckers averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists while leading the Huskies to the Final Four.
Paige Bueckers makes the best use of NIL in her final college season
While she has always had endorsement deals, the list has got much longer this summer. Paige Bueckers elevated her business profile to another level as she signed a deal to participate in Unrivaled, a 3v3 women's basketball league.
Founded by former Huskies, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the league is player-centered, as each signee is offered an ownership stake in the teams. With this, Bueckers became the first college player to sign with a professional league.
The guard is also the face of the haircare brand, Madison Reed's ColorWonder line. This partnership also gives Bueckers equity stake in the brand and opportunities to franchise a Madison Reed Hair Color Bar.
With all her signings, Paige Bueckers is exhibiting her business acumen and is also setting an example for other student-athletes. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, she said:
"I definitely want to be looked at as somebody who you want to follow this path in NIL. For me, it's building the brand of giving back and using the platform and the gifts that I've been given and blessed with to give back to others.
"It's about being caring, being genuine and having real authentic relationships, not just using a brand to up my status but actually building relationships and long-term partnerships."
What do you think of Paige Bueckers' recent business moves? Let us know in the comments section below.
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