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UConn star Paige Bueckers has made a name for herself in college sports, but her rise to prominence began years earlier. As a sixth-grader, Bueckers was already garnering attention, including a notable comparison to Phoenix Mercury and USA Women's Basketball legend Diana Taurasi by Minnesota-based media member Gary Knox in a September 2013 tweet.
A tweet unearthed by a fan on Saturday caused a frenzy on the Twitterverse. One fan tweeted that Paige Bueckers must have been exceptionally talented even as a sixth-grader to be compared to a legendary player like Diana Taurasi.
"U know she was a demon if he was comparing a 6th grader to Diana Taurasi"
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One fan had a very high opinion of Bueckers' potential:
"She is beyond DT. The most exciting female BB player I have ever seen. Can not wait until she enters the WNBA where she can un leash her inner Show Time game," the fan tweeted.
Kevin Durant's former podcast co-host got in on the action and had his say.
"It’s very high on the list," Eddie Gonzalez tweeted.
Other fans shared the same sentiment:
"Imagine it’s 2013 and you show up to the gym and get absolutely cooked by this kid," a fan added.
"A lot of child prodigies don't pan out. She lived up the the hype," a fan mentioned.
One fan wasn't buying the idea of Paige Bueckers being compared to Taurasi.
"She hasn’t even made the league yet! It might be true but super premature to say she lived up to Diana Taurasi levels already," the fan tweeted.
Paige Bueckers' high school career earned her numerous accolades, including being Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year three times and was named the nation's top high school recruit in 2020. In her senior season, she averaged 21.0 points, 9.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds.
Her college career has garnered widespread acclaim, including praise from her coach, Geno Auriemma, who, like Gary Knox, compared her to Diana Taurasi. Her impressive performance has propelled her to the top of the rankings ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.
When Paige Bueckers linked up with former UConn star Diana Taurasi
Paige Bueckers met women's basketball legend Diana Taurasi during the 2024 WNBA All-Star game at Phoenix. Taurasi who is a UConn alumnus has spoken highly of Bueckers in the past.
During her time at UConn, Taurasi led the Huskies to three straight NCAA titles from 2002-2004. This success led her to being drafted with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft and leading the Mercury to three titles.
