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The road ends in Tampa for one of women's college basketball's biggest stars.
For the fourth time in her career, UConn star guard Paige Bueckers will play in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament, and look to lead Geno Auriemma's Huskies to their 12th national championship title in program history.
Through four NCAA Tournament games, Bueckers has played almost as if she has a chip on her shoulder, as she is averaging 29 points per game and has scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games. She's also had a presence on the defensive side of the ball, as she is averaging 3.3 steals per game.
REQUIRED READING: Final Four schedule: Times, TV channel, matchups for women's March Madness semifinals
Bueckers' tear in the postseason has also come at a time that the WNBA draft has been at the forefront of conversations in every round of the tournament, with her illustrations career reportedly coming to an end in Storrs, Connecticut with the Huskies at the conclusion of the tournament.
So where is Bueckers' heading in the W? Here's what you need to know about Bueckers' WNBA draft status, including a look at where she is going in mock drafts and more:
Bueckers' is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in this month's WNBA draft according to several WNBA draft and women's college basketball experts. If taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings, Bueckers would become the sixth player from UConn to be taken with the top overall pick, and the first since Breanna Stewart went No. 1 overall to the Seattle Storm in 2016.
Here's a look at where some WNBA experts have Bueckers going in the draft:
For The Win's Megan L. Hall (as of March 27):No. 1 to the Wings
"For months, there's been little doubt that UConn guard Paige Bueckers is the consensus No. 1 draft pick. Bueckers is having a terrific season, and per Bleacher Report, she's the only player across three leagues (college basketball, the WNBA and the NBA) to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent at the free-throw line while leading the country in assists to turnover ratio."
ESPN's Michael Voepel (as of March 25): No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings
"There has been plenty of chatter in the hoops world that Bueckers might not want to play in Dallas. She hasn't commented on the topic. But as it stands, Bueckers is the clear top pick. Even though she has one season of eligibility remaining, Bueckers has made it clear she won't return to UConn. She is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 41.6% from behind the arc."
The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant (as of March 19):No. 1 to the Wings
"Not that there were any doubts about Paige Bueckers being the top choice in this draft, but if there were, those were summarily put to rest with Bueckers’ most outstanding player tour de force in her final Big East tournament, with Dallas general manager Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes looking on from the stands. Bueckers showcased the full gamut of skills that make her such a tantalizing prospect: shot-making, shot creation, controlling the tempo and defensive playmaking. She also demonstrated the leadership and aggression any team looks for in a potential franchise player.
" ... There is a high standard for Bueckers to live up to as a top pick from UConn, a group that includes Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. Bueckers’ collegiate production indicates that she is a worthy addition to this lineage."
REQUIRED READING: Geno Auriemma, laugh it up, because UConn as Final Four 'underdog' is a joke
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Bueckers' stats in the women's NCAA Tournament this year:
Here's a breakdown of Bueckers' career stats at UConn:
The WNBA draft will take place on Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET from The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paige Bueckers WNBA mock draft: Projections for UConn women's star
Continue reading...
For the fourth time in her career, UConn star guard Paige Bueckers will play in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament, and look to lead Geno Auriemma's Huskies to their 12th national championship title in program history.
Through four NCAA Tournament games, Bueckers has played almost as if she has a chip on her shoulder, as she is averaging 29 points per game and has scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games. She's also had a presence on the defensive side of the ball, as she is averaging 3.3 steals per game.
REQUIRED READING: Final Four schedule: Times, TV channel, matchups for women's March Madness semifinals
Bueckers' tear in the postseason has also come at a time that the WNBA draft has been at the forefront of conversations in every round of the tournament, with her illustrations career reportedly coming to an end in Storrs, Connecticut with the Huskies at the conclusion of the tournament.
So where is Bueckers' heading in the W? Here's what you need to know about Bueckers' WNBA draft status, including a look at where she is going in mock drafts and more:
Paige Bueckers WNBA mock draft
Bueckers' is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in this month's WNBA draft according to several WNBA draft and women's college basketball experts. If taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings, Bueckers would become the sixth player from UConn to be taken with the top overall pick, and the first since Breanna Stewart went No. 1 overall to the Seattle Storm in 2016.
Here's a look at where some WNBA experts have Bueckers going in the draft:
For The Win's Megan L. Hall (as of March 27):No. 1 to the Wings
"For months, there's been little doubt that UConn guard Paige Bueckers is the consensus No. 1 draft pick. Bueckers is having a terrific season, and per Bleacher Report, she's the only player across three leagues (college basketball, the WNBA and the NBA) to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent at the free-throw line while leading the country in assists to turnover ratio."
ESPN's Michael Voepel (as of March 25): No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings
"There has been plenty of chatter in the hoops world that Bueckers might not want to play in Dallas. She hasn't commented on the topic. But as it stands, Bueckers is the clear top pick. Even though she has one season of eligibility remaining, Bueckers has made it clear she won't return to UConn. She is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 41.6% from behind the arc."
The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant (as of March 19):No. 1 to the Wings
"Not that there were any doubts about Paige Bueckers being the top choice in this draft, but if there were, those were summarily put to rest with Bueckers’ most outstanding player tour de force in her final Big East tournament, with Dallas general manager Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes looking on from the stands. Bueckers showcased the full gamut of skills that make her such a tantalizing prospect: shot-making, shot creation, controlling the tempo and defensive playmaking. She also demonstrated the leadership and aggression any team looks for in a potential franchise player.
" ... There is a high standard for Bueckers to live up to as a top pick from UConn, a group that includes Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. Bueckers’ collegiate production indicates that she is a worthy addition to this lineage."
REQUIRED READING: Geno Auriemma, laugh it up, because UConn as Final Four 'underdog' is a joke
Paige Bueckers stats
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Bueckers' stats in the women's NCAA Tournament this year:
- vs. Arkansas State (Women's NCAA Tournament First Round): 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with four assists, two steals, two blocks and a rebound
- vs. South Dakota State (Women's NCAA Tournament Second Round): 34 points on 14-of-21 shooting with four assists, four steals and three rebounds
- vs. Oklahoma (Women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16): 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting with six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist
- vs. USC (Women's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight): 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting with six assists, four steals, three rebounds and two blocks
Here's a breakdown of Bueckers' career stats at UConn:
- Career: 19.9 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 53.4% from the field (42.7% 3-Point Shooting)
- 2020-21: 20.0 points per game, 5.7 assists per game, 4.9 rebounds per game and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 52.4% from the field (46.4% 3-Point Shooting)
- 2021-22: 14.6 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 54.5% from the field (35.3% 3-Point Shooting)
- 2022-23: Did Not Play Due to Injury
- 2023-24: 21.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field (41.6% 3-Point Shooting)
- 2024-25: 20.1 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 54.3% from the field (43.2% 3-Point Shooting)
When is the WNBA draft?
- Date: Monday, April 14
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: The Shed at Hudson Yards (New York City)
The WNBA draft will take place on Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET from The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paige Bueckers WNBA mock draft: Projections for UConn women's star
Continue reading...
