After leading her team back to another Final Four, University of Connecticut basketball star Paige Bueckers praised God for building her character through “trials and tribulations.” The 2021 Naismith College Player of the Year has faced a slew of injuries in college, including a torn ACL that sidelined her for the entire 2022-23 season.
Bueckers, also known as Paige Buckets, is one of the game’s best playmakers. The 22-year-old Minnesota native is also an outspoken Christian who posts Bible verses on social media. As a freshman at UConn, Bueckers said her goal was to shine for Jesus and “make him famous.”
Paige Bueckers: ‘You Can Overcome Anything With God on Your Side’
Despite having six injured and inactive players this spring, the storied UConn Huskies keep climbing through the NCAA Tournament ranks. On April 1, the women’s team beat USC to earn a spot in the Final Four. After scoring 28 points against the Trojans Monday, Paige Bueckers told an ESPN reporter she was grateful and gave “all glory to God.”
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“I’m a living testimony,” said Bueckers. “[God] works in mysterious ways. Last year I was praying to be back at this stage. And he sent me trials and tribulations. But it was to build my character; it was to test my faith.” She added that she “just kept on believing” and “did all I could so God can do all I can’t.”
When the reporter noted that legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma had said it would take “a miracle” for his team to advance this far, Bueckers again spoke about faith. “You can overcome anything with God on your side, with hard work on your side,” she said. “With the belief and the faith…the perseverance, the resilience. It’s all about how you overcome adversity in life.”
Coach Auriemma said Bueckers plays on “a different level” and inspires everyone around her. “Today Paige was doing Paige things,” he said after the Huskies defeated USC. Teammate Ashlynn Shade said of Bueckers, “She is basketball. She embodies greatness every time she steps on the court.”
Next up, the Huskies face the top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes and superstar Caitlin Clark on April 5. The winner moves on to the national championship game, which neither Clark nor Bueckers has won.
God Sustained Paige Bueckers During a Grueling Recovery
Bueckers has spoken about the difficulty of being sidelined with injuries while watching her teammates play. Pointing to Proverbs 3:5-6 as a favorite Bible passage, she said God sustained her through those challenges.
