Paige Bueckers didn’t just win a national championship with the UConn Huskies—she also closed out her college career in golden fashion, finishing with a major title and an emotional on-court hug with head coach Geno Auriemma, during which the two shared a heartfelt exchange of mutual respect.
Speaking to ESPN, Bueckers revealed that Auriemma told her he loved her. She joked about her response but made it clear how much he means to her: “He told me he loved me and I told him I hated him. … Nah, I love that man like more than words can describe.”
She also opened up about how Auriemma pushed her throughout her time at Uconn: “Because he is challenging me, makes us better in ways we never thought we could…” Bueckers emphasized how dedicated Auriemma is to maximizing every player’s potential and said it’s hard to fully express what he’s meant to her during her career.
Auriemma confirmed that he did indeed say “I love you” to Bueckers. Through tears, the UConn head coach mentioned that he had told her, adding, “That’s all I could say, I love you.“ The head coach also explained how all the women on the team fell in love with the process, which he believes was a key factor in reaching this far in the season.
Bueckers promised to return, and she delivered
It’s worth noting that a year ago, Bueckers had declared she would play one more season with the Huskies after an impressive campaign with 39 starts and an average of 21.9 points per game. In her final season, she played two fewer games, totaling 37, but that was enough to secure another national championship for the program.
How long had it been since UConn last won a National Championship?
Before their most recent title in the 2024-25 season, the Huskies had endured seven seasons without a major title. The last time they tasted national glory was in the 2015-16 season, one of the 12 championships that Auriemma has now achieved in his 40 years as head coach of the program.
