9 hours Ago By Hunter Cookston
The UConn Huskies won the national championship on Sunday afternoon, ending a near 10-year drought. The entire NCAA Tournament became a time of reflection for UConn, as Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma played in their final tournament together. For the duo, it was a national championship or bust.
The player and coach share a unique relationship, one that has been on full display for the world ever since Bueckers arrived on campus. In fact, it is believed that Bueckers is Auriemma’s favorite player he’s ever coached. This has nothing to do with her skill, but rather the special bond they’ve built.
Going into the national championship game, Auriemma felt that Bueckers truly deserved a ring before her five-year career came to an end. “She deserves to go out as a national champion, but so do a bunch of kids at South Carolina who have done the exact same thing. That's the beauty of it – only one of those teams will get to do that,” Auriemma told the media.
Typically, when an older coach has a player with whom they've built something special, it often leads to speculation about retirement. However, Auriemma has shut down all retirement rumors, making it clear that it’s not on the horizon. The UConn Huskies returned to Connecticut on Monday for the championship rally.
When Bueckers took the podium, she couldn’t hold back the tears. "This place is a second home to me..
." Paige Bueckers gets emotional addressing the UConn fans at the Huskies' championship rally 🥹 pic.twitter.
com/gwclqpOn9x “This is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the entire journey. This place is a second home to me. Thank you so much for everything,” Bueckers told the Husky faithful.
Over the course of her five years at UConn, Bueckers has given everything to the program, which has seen its share of highs and lows. In the end, Bueckers was able to finish her career on top, achieving her ultimate dream. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp.
