Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers shared an emotional hug amid UConn’s 82-59 victory over South Carolina at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., to win the national championship on Sunday.
Bueckers checked out of the game with the Huskies leading the Gamecocks 82-53 with 1:32 left. The senior guard shared a lengthy embrace with her head coach. Bueckers was crying, knowing that she had won a championship in what was her final college game.
This moment between Geno and Paige 🥺 pic.twitter.com/qiDFeObdPW
— ESPN (@espn) April 6, 2025
The championship was the 12th for Auriemma and first for Bueckers, who has dealt with injuries during her Huskies career. The combination of seeing what Bueckers went through with where she is now led the 71-year-old to be emotional.
“I love you. That’s all I can say. I love you,” Auriemma said was his message to Bueckers.
Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma hug as she checks out for the final time 🥹 pic.twitter.com/p2psBv0TDv
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 6, 2025
Bueckers scored 17 points on 5/14 shooting in what was her final game with UConn. Teammates Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd led the way for UConn with 24 points apiece.
There was no doubt about UConn’s excellence this season. They finished 37-3 and demolished their competition in the Final Four, beating UCLA by 34 and South Carolina by 23.
