Paige Bueckers, the face of UConn basketball, has proven herself time and again, both with her game and leadership skills. However, something was off in the recent game against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. UConn lost 80-76, its third such loss this season but for many fans, it was more than just the score. Bueckers is under constant pressure to defend if she still has the fire that had made her an unstoppable force once. To be honest, no athlete can avoid such kind of pressure, but how much is too much?
The weight of this constant spotlight, along with the expectations, is catching up with Paige Bueckers. Everyone expected her to lead the Huskies straight to a national championship after a tough recovery from injury. It’s no surprise that she’s feeling the pressure. A former basketball player turned sports analyst shared some eye-opening statements about the Minnesota-born lady.
On one of the Rachel Annamarie DeMita podcasts, she said, “It’s been such the perfect storm of media narratives. From what I’m seeing it might have gotten to Paige.” The analyst feels it has more to do with the media’s hype that is putting the young lady in a spot. She added, “The expectation for Paige was that Paige Bueckers was the Caitlyn Clark before Caitlyn Clark. How many media people have you heard say that that was the narrative.” DeMita felt CC never had the media-built story that Paige has to prove, and it’s getting the worst out of her.
December 7, 2024, Brooklyn, New York, USA: UConn Huskies guard PAIGE BUECKERS 5 reacts to a play during the first half against the Louisville Cardinals. Brooklyn USA – ZUMAb273 20241207_zsp_b273_034 Copyright: xJordanxBankx
Interestingly, DeMita also pointed out something that all too many athletes can relate to—burnout. “I honestly feel like she might be getting burnt out; her joy seems to be fading from the game of basketball, and that’s sad. I’ve been in that position before.”
Paige’s performance in the Tennessee game seemed to back up these concerns. She provided 8 assists and 4 rebounds while making only 5 out of 16 field goal attempts during the game. That’s a red flag for someone known for her sharpshooting. Again, a media built pressure? Or is it time up for Bueckers? Geno Auriemma wasn’t afraid to express his frustration with the ‘Youth Olympic gold medalist in 3×3 basketball’ play in the Tennessee game. It’s not just the fans who are putting pressure on her to perform; her coach is as well.
UConn faces crucial test as Auriemma criticizes Paige Bueckers
Following UConn’s defeat against Tennessee Geno Auriemma openly expressed his frustration during the post-game interview. His comments about Paige Bueckers have sparked a lot of debates. Known for his honesty, Auriemma expressed frustration with Bueckers’ inconsistency, especially during big moments of the game. He stated, “Paige wants the ball in her hands all the time, then when they trap her, she doesn’t want the ball in her hands. So we try to move her from one thing to another, get her moving without the ball.”
Understandably, Auriemma is frustrated, as he expected Paige Bueckers to have a big year. The criticism comes at an important time for Paige, who confirmed she will enter the 2025 WNBA Draft. The pressure of being a top draft pick and leading UConn to a title, along with her coach’s scrutiny, could heavily impact her mindset and performance.
UConn and Bueckers will have the chance to bounce back in their next game against Providence. The big question is how the 23-year-old will respond. Will the criticism be the spark that persuades her to play better and prove her critics wrong? Or it will burden her with that immense pressure, making it even worse? This next game is going to be a critical moment in Bueckers’ season, and maybe her career, regardless of the outcome.
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