Career Timeline of Paige Bueckers: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Paige Bueckers built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Paige Bueckers is a prominent American college basketball player currently playing for the UConn Huskies. Known for her exceptional skills and leadership on the court, she quickly rose to fame as a highly touted recruit and has become a key player for her team in the Big East Conference. Her talent and performance have garnered significant attention and accolades, marking her as one of the most exciting players in college basketball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1989: Matches Program Record for Points in a Season Opener

On November 14, 2021, Paige Bueckers matched the program record for points in a season opener set by Kerry Bascom in 1989.

1998: 11th Number-One Recruit to Sign and Attend UConn Since 1998

In 1998, Paige Bueckers became the 11th number-one recruit to sign and attend UConn since 1998.

2007: Highest-Scoring Performance by a UConn Freshman Since 2007

On February 3, 2021, Paige Bueckers posted a season-high 32 points, which was the highest-scoring performance by a UConn freshman since Tina Charles in 2007.

2012: Comparison to Breanna Stewart

Entering her freshman season at UConn, in 2012, sports publications described Paige Bueckers as the program's most hyped recruit since Breanna Stewart.

November 25, 2016: Freshman Season Debut for Hopkins High School

On November 25, 2016, Paige Bueckers made her freshman season debut for Hopkins High School, recording 28 points, five steals and four assists in a 74–34 win over Osseo Senior High School.

February 1, 2019: Scores Career-High 43 Points

On February 1, 2019, Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 43 points in a 69–66 win over Wayzata High School and surpassed 2,000 career points.

April 1, 2019: Commitment to University of Connecticut

On April 1, 2019, Paige Bueckers announced her commitment to the University of Connecticut.

2019: Wins Gold Medals and Named Athlete of the Year

In 2019, Paige Bueckers won a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where she was named Most Valuable Player. In addition, she was recognized as USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 2019.

January 29, 2020: Featured on Slam Magazine Cover

On January 29, 2020, during her senior season, Paige Bueckers became the first female high school player to be featured on the cover of basketball magazine "Slam".

December 12, 2020: Collegiate Debut for UConn

On December 12, 2020, Paige Bueckers made her collegiate debut for UConn, recording 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 79–23 win over UMass Lowell.

2020: Team Leadership Role

Entering her freshman season at UConn, in 2020, Paige Bueckers became her team's leader from the beginning of her college career.

2020: Ranked Number One Player in the 2020 Class

In 2020, Paige Bueckers was a five-star recruit and ranked the number one player in the 2020 class by ESPN.

January 21, 2021: Game-Winning Shot Against Tennessee and Ankle Sprain

On January 21, 2021, Paige Bueckers made a three-pointer with 25 seconds left to help defeat rival Tennessee, 67–61. She also sprained her ankle late in the game.

July 2021: Wins Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award

In July 2021, Paige Bueckers won the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award.

August 2021: Signs with Wasserman for NIL Representation

In August 2021, Paige Bueckers signed with Wasserman, represented by agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas, as a name, image, and likeness (NIL) client, shortly after the NCAA allowed student-athletes to be compensated for their NIL.

November 14, 2021: Season Debut and Career-High Score

On November 14, 2021, Paige Bueckers made her season debut, recording a career-high 34 points in a 95–80 win against Arkansas.

November 2021: Endorsement Deals with StockX and Gatorade

In November 2021, Paige Bueckers signed her first two major endorsement deals with StockX and Gatorade, becoming the first college athlete to sign with Gatorade.

2021: UConn Reaches Final Four of NCAA Tournament

In 2021, Paige Bueckers led UConn to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament and set program records for assists by a freshman and single-game assists. She also became the first freshman to earn a major national women's college player of the year award, winning all four for which she was eligible.

February 7, 2022: Partnership with Cash App and Launch of Foundation

On February 7, 2022, Paige Bueckers announced a partnership with Cash App, through which she launched the Paige Bueckers Foundation, aimed at promoting social justice and creating opportunities for families and children.

February 25, 2022: Cleared to Return Against St. John's

On February 25, 2022, Paige Bueckers was cleared to return against St. John's. She came off the bench for the first time in her career, scoring eight points in 13 minutes due to a minutes restriction, in a 93–38 victory.

April 4, 2022: Instagram Milestone

On April 4, 2022, Paige Bueckers' Instagram account reached one million followers, reportedly making her the first women's college basketball player to achieve this mark.

August 9, 2023: Cleared to Return to the Court

On August 9, 2023, Paige Bueckers announced she was fully cleared to return to the court, two months after being cleared for all activities except five-on-five play.

September 6, 2023: Multiyear Deal with Nike

On September 6, 2023, Paige Bueckers signed a multiyear deal with Nike and promoted the company's new GT Hustle 2 shoe. She will have a special colorway of the GT Hustle 3 shoe, making her the first college athlete to have her own Nike shoe.

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January 17, 2024: Season-High 32 Points Against Seton Hall

On January 17, 2024, Paige Bueckers posted a season-high 32 points and seven rebounds in an 83–59 win over Seton Hall.

February 16, 2024: Bueckers Announces Return to UConn

On February 16, 2024, Paige Bueckers announced that she would return to UConn for the 2024–25 season, despite being projected as a top-three pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.