All athletes face some type of injury, but Paige Bueckers has had to fight more than most. Her journey has been tough, from a nasty rolled ankle to an ACL tear. But what separates her is her indomitable desire to come back to her best.
Paige Bueckers’ Injury History
January 21, 2021 – Rolled Right Ankle
Bueckers twisted her right ankle in the game’s closing minutes during a slump against Tennessee. A missed layup along with the injury even triggered a few groans, but she came back with her ankle wrapped and canned a key 3-pointer to help the UConn Huskies beat Binghamton 67-61.
Making her comeback, she took the court against Arkansas on January 28, 2021, which won her the right to play the same game against Georgetown again the following week.
December 5, 2021 – Left Knee Tibial Plateau Fracture and Meniscus Tear
Bueckers suffered a noncontact knee injury in a game with Notre Dame in the last minute and suffered a tibial plateau fracture and partial tear of the lateral meniscus of her left knee. She had surgery on December 13, 2021, and was told initially she would miss 6 to 8 weeks.
But her recovery took nearly 12 weeks, and she returned to the court on Feb. 25, 2022, to play St. John’s. She returned and helped UConn to the national championship, where she put up an effective 27 points in an overtime win against NC State during the NCAA Tournament.
August 1, 2022 – Left Knee ACL Tear
Bueckers tore the ACL in her left knee during a summer pickup game at UConn. An MRI confirmed the injury, and she had surgery a week later. This kept her out for the entire 2022-23 season. Throughout her recovery, she remained active with the team, providing encouragement and advice from the sidelines.
After this injury, she shared what she felt during that time: “I knew it was bad. I felt a pop. I’m not really sure if I heard it, but I felt it for sure. I knew something was wrong.”.
Later, in June 2023, she revealed when she was almost healed that “I want to be the type of player that I was before, pre-injury, but better,” Bueckers said. “I have those expectations for myself, so that’s where I want to be.”.
October 13, 2023 – Left Thumb Sprain
Bueckers injured her left thumb while practicing and sat out a short bit of basketball before returning. Out for a few days and missing the First Night event, she returned to the court by late October, wearing a protective wrap for the first few games of the season.
However, this injury wasn’t that serious. She later said, “It kind of just jammed,” she said. “But it’s good, it’s healing, it’s getting better.”
January 5, 2025 – Left Knee/Ankle Injury
Bueckers injured her left knee and ankle in a game against Villanova. At first, the severity of the injury was unknown, but coach Geno Auriemma believed she would heal quickly. Her fans remembered her earlier injuries, but she showed her toughness and spent only a little time out before returning to play.
However, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said after the win, “She’s pretty good. I mean, it was unfortunate, the kid dove for the ball and I’m sure people saw. Paige turned her back, and it was a weird situation.”
There were a few tougher injuries for Paige Bueckers to deal with during her tenure in college basketball. Her determination to do intense rehab and come back to top performance spelled her journey through these challenges.