STORRS, Conn. — UConn Women’s Basketball star Paige Bueckers added to her list of accolades Wednesday when she was recognized as the 2023-2024 Big East Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Bueckers, a redshirt junior guard, is the first Huskies women's basketball player to earn the honor since fellow Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy winner Maya Moore in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. After two years diminished by injuries, Bueckers returned to form on the court this season and continued her success in the classroom, becoming a three-time Big East All-Academic Team member.
Pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in human development and family studies, Bueckers boasts a 3.497 cumulative grade point average and earned a 3.93 GPA last semester. She also made a local impact by donating funds to the UConn Foundation to fight food insecurity and partnering with Gatorade to provide equipment to the Hartford Hurricanes, a youth program with a newly founded girls basketball team.
Back on the hardwood, Bueckers, the 2021 AP Player of the Year, is enjoying a renaissance season. After missing all the 2022-2023 campaign and most of the 2021-2022 season due to knee injuries, Bueckers finished second in the Big East conference in scoring this year, averaging 22 points per game.
While leading the Huskies to their 23rd Big East regular season title and an undefeated record in conference play, Bueckers was twice named National Player of the Week this season by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. She was also named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale USBWA National Player of the Year Watchlist and the Wade Trophy Midseason Watch List.
Last month, she excited collegiate basketball fans across the country by announcing she would return to Storrs for her redshirt senior season. Moving forward, Bueckers will likely remain a familiar face in the community, where she has participated in numerous volunteer events, including classroom readings, turkey drives and Connecticut Children’s Hospital visits.
By winning the Big East’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, Bueckers continues UConn’s tradition of academic excellence. A UConn women’s basketball player has received the honor eight times. In addition to Moore, Bueckers joins Jennifer Rizzotti (1995-1996), Rebecca Lobo (1993-1994, 1994-1995), Wendy Davis (1991-1992) and Leigh Curl, who won the inaugural award in 1984-1985.
Bueckers will receive a $2,000 scholarship along with the award, which pales in comparison to her $652,000 projected NIL value.
The UConn Women’s Basketball team will next play on Saturday, March 9 in a Big East Conference Tournament game against Providence or Butler at noon at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. As the month continues, the team will look to add to its record 11 National Championships in the NCAA Tournament.
---
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
