Paige Bueckers & Coach Geno Auriemma embracing after National Championship win.
The NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship is one of the most significant events at the beginning of the year. For many people, this is a highly anticipated game. Only 68/1,697 teams make it to March Madness for women’s college basketball. One team that has been seen over and over at the NCAA Women’s Basketball March Madness Tournament is the UCONN Huskies.
UCONN has been one of the most supported schools in women’s basketball for decades. Many WNBA players made a name for themselves on this team, including Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Diana Taurasi. One quote that has been seen around the UCONN women’s basketball team for a few years now was said by Gigi Bryant: “When you think you can’t, UCONN.”
Sarah Strong #21 and Azzi Fudd #35 tied for the most points scored with 24 points each. Fudd also hit the 1,000-point mark in the second quarter of the championship game.UCONN would head to the locker room after the second quarter with a 10-point lead over South Carolina. UCONN would take a heavy lead over South Carolina throughout the entire game. UCONN won 82-58 over No.1 seed South Carolina, giving Head Coach Geno Auriemma his 12th NCAA Women’s basketball championship win, his first coming in 1995.
This was also a big game for Paige Bueckers, who won her first NCAA tournament in her 5-year college career after losing the last 3 years. Bueckers is projected to be the No.1 pick in the WNBA draft later this month. She won gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. She also accepted the Wade Trophy just a couple of days before the National Championship win. Bueckers was subbed out with 1:32 left in the game and didn’t wait to go hug Coach Auriemma, with Auriemma saying, “I love you”. Bueckers also shared her account of this moment. “He told me he loved me, and I told him I hated him,” she said with a laugh. “No, I love that man more than words can describe. There are a lot of times when I don’t.” She’s also shared on multiple other accounts how much Auriemma has helped her and how much he means to her.
With 12 national championship wins under his belt, Auriemma doesn’t look like he will be retiring after this season, so hopefully, we will see another Championship win in the future. So, all in all, UCONN gave their all in this last game and ended up winning it all. Go Huskies!!!