"We just got so close in that time": UConn star Paige Bueckers discussed her close friendship with Ice Brady

Paige Bueckers will enter the new season with UConn as the face of the program. She forgo her WNBA Draft eligibility to return to more college basketball for at least another year before transitioning to the WNBA.

Bueckers can be a great leader for UConn as she shares a great relationship with her teammates. In a video that is going viral on TikTok, she was spotted talking about her close relationship with UConn's Ice Brady.

The UConn star introduced her red-shirt season as the starting point of their bond as it was the same time when Brady got injured.

"Ever since me and Ice, we had our injury journey kind of sort of during the same time," Bueckers said. "We just got so close at that time, just leaning on each other, learning on each other's strengths. Also, we built our faith together. We started going to Bible studies together, went to church together. I just told her God's timing is always perfect.

"She's had a lot of ups and downs through the season, inconsistencies and being a freshman at UConn's hard and I told her that many times. Just to see her grow and just talk about the timing of her being at her best in the biggest moment. Stepping up to being confident when everybody in the team believes in her, so just instilling that confidence within her. Making sure she makes most of the moment," she added.

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Paige Bueckers has always been a great friend to Ice Brady. She also posted their off-court moments in a couple of Instagram stories while wishing Brady on her birthday. She reflected on the love she has for her in the posts.

"Happy birthday to my Icey," Paige Bueckers wrote in her first story.

"I love you. You already know how it is," she wrote in her second story.

Brady had a tough start to her college basketball career. Joining because of her respect for the head coach, Geno Auriemma, she got injured and had to spend her entire freshman season at a rehab.

Auriemma also talked about how special she was as a player but was unfortunate to get injured during the Huskies' media days.

"Now don't get me wrong, she [Brady] hasn't played college basketball and there's some issues that are going to rise and all that. But anytime a kid can make shots from the perimeter, score in the lane, (is a) really good passer; she just has that kind of game," said Auriemma.

Brady returned in the 2023-24 season and started 3 out of 39 games. She played 17.5 minutes per game and averaged 4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and 1.1 apg while shooting 43.6%.

Paige Bueckers mentored Ice Brady during their injury

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Paige Bueckers and Ice Brady had their 2022-23 season redshirted due to knee injuries. However, they motivated each other during the tough times and came very strong out of it.

"As unfortunate as it was, to be able to have each other to lean on through the toughest times of our life was extremely important," Bueckers told CT Insider.

Paige Bueckers, being a senior, mentored Brady as she faced injury in her freshman season.

"She definitely, like, took me under her wing and mentored me," Brady told CT Insider.

Now that they both are fit, the 2024-25 season will potentially be the best time for both of them to prove their worth and increase their draft stocks.