Geno Auriemma shares what he informed Paige Bueckers in emotional hug

Paige Bueckers is lastly a champion.

After making every Ultimate 4 of her illustrious profession however by no means reaching the mountaintop, her ultimate sport at UConn ended with a nationwide title.

The Huskies earned their twelfth title on Sunday with an 82-59 victory over the reigning champion South Carolina Gamecocks.

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Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma hugs guard Paige Bueckers in the course of the second half in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks within the nationwide championship of the ladies’s 2025 NCAA match at Amalie Area. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photos)

It is UConn’s first title since 2015, ending their longest drought since successful their first title in 1995.

Bueckers was taken out of the sport with 1:32 to go within the sport, and she or he could not maintain her feelings as she shared an extended hug with head coach Geno Auriemma.

Auriemma was requested by ESPN after the sport what he mentioned to his star participant, and he saved it easy whereas holding again tears himself.

“I like you,” he mentioned. “That is all you’ll be able to say.”

Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers reacts in the course of the first half in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks within the nationwide championship of the ladies’s 2025 NCAA match at Amalie Area. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photos)

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Bueckers was later requested what she mentioned again to her coach.

“I informed him I hate him,” she joked.

It has been a curler coaster for Bueckers, whose profession 19.9 factors per sport is essentially the most in UConn historical past, which has elite alumni. However she tore her ACL in 2022, forcing her to overlook your entire season.

Bueckers was a part of the one crew in UConn historical past to lose a nationwide title sport earlier than she suffered the damage, and so they did not get out of the Ultimate 4 final yr.

However on Sunday, she dropped 17 factors en path to lastly successful all of it.

Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers seems to be to shoot the ball in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the course of the first half of the nationwide championship of the ladies’s 2025 NCAA match at Amalie Area. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photos)

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Bueckers additionally holds the UConn document for essentially the most factors scored in March Insanity all through a profession, a mark that ranks third all-time.

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