A year after Caitlin Clark redefined what women’s college basketball could look like, Paige Bueckers was at the same helm, trying to outdo her rival. While Clark could not drag the Iowa Hawkeyes to an NCAA title after making the championship in back-to-back years, Bueckers succeeded with the UConn Huskies.
As her incredible season and collegiate career came to a close, a rather surprising picture courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings on social media started making the rounds. It collectively warmed the hearts of fans everywhere and went viral in a matter of minutes.
From the Vikings to the Huskies – the Paige Bueckers Connection
Bueckers’ career began as a five-year-old in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. A Lynx fan throughout her life, she became a standout basketball talent, starting for Hopkins High School as well as the AAU program North Tartan. Coming in as the No. 1 recruit in the country, Bueckers joined the UConn Huskies.
However, her roots in Minnesota came back to the forefront as she lifted her first national title. The Vikings posted a picture of a young Bueckers decked out in Vikings gear, wearing jersey No. 28 — which feels safe to assume was for Adrian Peterson, given her age and his playing career timeline.
Buckets 🏆
đź’śđź’› pic.twitter.com/OSjgeYpd8p
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 6, 2025
Captioning it “Buckets,” after her nickname “Paige Buckets,” it was a heartwarming image that caught everyone’s attention.
Joining the Huskies, a legendary freshman year followed where she won the Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, Women’s National Player of the Year, and the John R. Wooden Award, while earning the first of three unanimous All-America selections.
Injuries derailed her sophomore season, forcing her to sit out what would have been her entire junior year as well. Coming back in 2023, it took her some time to get going, but she eventually returned to form and earned another unanimous All-America nod.
Her final year in college was arguably her best. Averaging nearly 20 points a game, she added over four rebounds and four assists while shooting an incredible split of nearly 53/42/89.
It paved the way for a legendary run through the NCAA tournament, where she posted three consecutive 30-plus-point games, including a 40-point performance in the Elite Eight. UConn’s average margin of victory in the tournament was more than 32 points per game, cementing the Huskies’ run as one of the most dominant in recent memory.
Now, Bueckers is headed to the WNBA with the 2025 draft, where she is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings.