When that final buzzer sounded in the arena, the blue ocean erupted. The scoreboard showed 82-59, and in an instant, UConn Women’s Basketball was right where it was meant to be — at the pinnacle of the NCAA peak. Geno Auriemma had done it once more. Twelve national championships now rest alongside his name, but this one? This one was different.
There was no promise this season would be one of confetti. No promise that Paige Bueckers, after setbacks and injuries, would ever have this moment. But on the night it counted most, UConn didn’t merely win, they reminded everyone what greatness looks like when it’s founded on grit, trust, and heart.
Paige Bueckers: The Star Who Shared the Spotlight
Bueckers, long referred to as “Paige Buckets,” didn’t illuminate the scoreboard like she did in the earlier stages of the tournament. During the championship final, only 10 of her 17 points were from field goals. The remaining points came on free throws. But that didn’t matter.
What was important was her leadership — how she directed games, got her teammates on track, and shared their triumph as if it were hers. She never attempted to be the hero. She didn’t have to. That’s why she was the heart of this team.
“It takes a village to do what we do here,” she said modestly after the game, sidestepping accolades the way only a true leader can.
Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd Steal the Show
While Bueckers held the team together emotionally, it was freshman Sarah Strong and junior Azzi Fudd who provided the pyrotechnics.
Strong was unstoppable. Her 24 points and 15 rebounds were reminiscent of a WNBA highlight reel, not a freshman season. She overpowered the paint, quieted South Carolina’s frontcourt, and looked every inch the future draft lottery pick many think she’ll be.
Fudd, meanwhile, played with a flame that had been smoldering all tournament. Long known for her 3-point shooting, she demonstrated a full game, slashing to the basket, making mid-range jumpers, and shutting down on defense. She too scored 24 points.
Strong and Fudd did the scoring heavy lifting. And South Carolina? They were left with no answers.
A Hug That Said It All
With less than two minutes left on the clock and victory all but certain, Bueckers left the court for the final time in a UConn uniform. On the sidelines, waiting for her, was Geno Auriemma — arms spread wide. She collapsed into them.
“I love that man more than words can say,” she said, tears streaming down her face, after the game.
The hug was long. It was heavy. It was the sort of moment sports never do so well — the player who sacrificed everything, and the coach who had believed in her, sharing something greater than basketball.
For Auriemma, it wasn’t another championship. It was a come-full-circle moment. A tale of survival and rebirth.
“They’ve all been gratifying, don’t get me wrong,” he said in a post-game interview. “But this one here, because of the way it came about and what’s been involved, it’s been a long time since I’ve been that emotional when a player has walked off the court.”
From Knoxville Loss to National Glory
UConn’s journey to the top wasn’t always smooth.
On February 6th, they lost to Tennessee, a difficult road game that was their third loss of the year. Bueckers didn’t play well that evening, and the chemistry wasn’t working.
Something, though, clicked following the contest.
“They didn’t just like each other,” Auriemma said afterward. “They loved each other.”
Ten days later, UConn tore through South Carolina in a statement game. It wasn’t simply a win — it was the evidence that the Huskies could take anyone down. That their passion didn’t diminish. That the dynasty wasn’t gone, just rejuvenating.
Timing Is Everything
Bueckers illuminated the tournament early — three consecutive 30+ point games from the second round through the Elite Eight. Fudd caught fire in the Final Four. Strong reached her peak in the championship game. Each found her moment. And when pressure intensified, they didn’t collapse. They soared.
“All three of them play off each other so well,” Auriemma said. “They all have such different skill sets.”
It was a roster firing on all cylinders at the ideal time.
The Last Great Dynasty. Still Great
A great deal has been written about the dominance of South Carolina during Dawn Staley’s reign over the past few years — and appropriately so. This championship, though, reminded me of the last great dynasty of women’s college hoops. It never truly disappeared.
It simply lacked the right building blocks to reinvent itself. And reinvent, it did.
This wasn’t a victory for UConn alone. It was a return. A resurgence. A declaration that when legends such as Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers are on the scene, counting them out is never a good wager.
