After a 85-44 victory over Georgetown on Senior Night, Paige Bueckers addressed the fans of the XL Center. “I know everyone wants me to address the elephant in the room,” Bueckers said. “Unfortunately this will not be my last Senior Night here at UConn.” 

Bueckers was projected a top three pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and is choosing to forgo that and use her remaining year of eligibility at Uconn. 

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• BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament: Final Recap
• BIG EAST Women's Basketball Standings

Bueckers missed her junior season at Uconn due to an ACL injury in 2022. After making her return this season and reestablishing herself as a top scorer in the nation, the decision of whether she was going pro was highly anticipated. 

Prior to Bueckers ACL Injury in 2022 was UConn Women’s Basketball last appearance in a NCAA Championship game, where they lost 64-49 to South Carolina. 

UConn (21-5,13-0) seniors Aaliyah Edwards, Aubrey Griffin, and Nika Muhl are also seniors who are eligible to return next season for the Huskies.

Big East Women's Basketball 

Here’s a look at Paige Bueckers career and what her return means for UConn Women’s Basketball

Paige Bueckers Stats

Here's a look at Bueckers stats at UConn over her career.

• 2023-24: 20 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.6 RPG
• 2022-23: Injured
• 2021-22: 14.6 PPG, 3.9 APG, 4.0 RPG
• 2020-21: 20 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.9 RPG

Paige Bueckers NIL Deal

Bueckers ranks as one of the top earners in the NIL space with a $643,000 valuation,  despite missing a year from injury. The highest paid WNBA player has a salary of $252,450 per year.

Here's a look at some of the company's Paige Bueckers has signed NIL deals with.

NIL Deals: 

• Nike
• Gatorade
• StockX
• Chegg
• Go Army
• Leaf Trading Cards

WNBA Mock Draft 2024 Projected Picks

Here are the WNBA mock draft projected picks prior to Paige Bueckers announcing her return to UConn. 

1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark

Iowa | point guard | 6-foot-0 | senior

2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink

Stanford | power forward | 6-foot-4 | senior

3. Phoenix Mercury: Paige Bueckers

UConn | point guard | 6-foot-0 | junior

4. Seattle Storm: Kamilla Cardoso

South Carolina | center | 6-foot-7 | senior

5. Dallas Wings: Rickea Jackson

Tennessee | power forward | 6-foot-2 | senior

6. Washington Mystics: Aaliyah Edwards

UConn | power forward | 6-foot-3 | senior

7. Minnesota Lynx: Alissa Pili

Utah | power forward | 6-foot-2 | senior

8. Atlanta Dream: Angel Reese

LSU | power forward | 6-foot-3 | senior

9. Dallas Wings: Georgia Amoore

Virginia Tech | point guard | 5-foot-6 | senior

10. Connecticut Sun: Nyadiew Puoch

Australia | small forward | 6-foot-3

How many players has Geno Auriemma sent to the WNBA?

Geno Auriemma has had 43 of his players drafted into the WNBA as a head coach.

Uconn Women's Basketball NCAA Tournament

The last time UConn Women's Basketball made it to the NCAA Championship games was 2022 with Paige Bueckers prior to her ACL injury. 

Here's a look at all the UConn NCAA tournament appearances

• NCAA tournament champions

1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

• NCAA tournament runner-up

2022

• NCAA tournament Final Four

1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

• NCAA tournament Elite Eight

1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

• NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen

1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

• NCAA tournament appearances

1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

Big East Women's Basketball Rankings 

The updated Big East Women's Basketball rankings can be found HERE.

How To Watch The 2024 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament

 The tournament begins on March 8 with three games all streaming on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

Game 1 of the quarterfinals will be available on FS1, with the remaining 3 games of the quarterfinals on FS2. 

Both the semifinals and championship game will be available to watch on FS1. 

The BIG EAST women's tournament will begin with round 1 on March 8 at 11am. Tournament seeding will be finalized at the end of the BIG EAST conference play on March 2.

When Does The 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Start?

The 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament will begin with Selection Sunday on March 17, followed by the First Four on March 20-21. 

After the opening round is complete, the field will be set with the top 64 teams and the first round will start on March 22.

What Is Selection Sunday?

Selection Sunday is the day the NCAA committee releases the full tournament bracket initial seeding of all 68 teams. 

32 teams will automatically qualify for the tournament by winning their conference tournament. 

That leaves 36 other teams fighting for an at-large bid from the selection committee, which is considered through multiple stats and rankings to determine who receives the at-large bid.

Watch NCAA Women’s Basketball On FloHoops

The NCAA Women's Basketball is streaming live on FloHoops and the FloSports app. The BIG EAST Digital Network is also on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

FloHoops Archived Footage

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHoops subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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