Paige Bueckers Reveals What She Told Her Former UConn Teammates After Final Four Upset (Exclusive)

**Paige Bueckers Supports Former UConn Teammates Following NCAA Final Four Loss**

Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings star, has shared her thoughts on maintaining a strong connection with her former UConn teammates after their recent defeat in the women’s Final Four. Following UConn’s 62-48 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on April 3, Bueckers visited her old team to offer words of encouragement and express her pride in their efforts.

Having led the UConn Huskies to a NCAA women’s basketball championship in April 2025, Bueckers is intimately familiar with the highs and lows of the tournament. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, she recounted her visit to the team, saying, “I went to go visit them and just tell them how proud I was of them.” Bueckers offered valuable insights from her own experiences, stating, “I’ve come up short and it’s pretty disappointing, but just to know how great of a season they had and a great career that the seniors had can motivate them to come back even better.”

This year’s tournament marked a significant change for Bueckers, as she viewed the games from the sidelines after graduating and turning professional. “It’s been fun,” she reflected. “I’ve had FOMO for sure and just missing being out there with the squad, but it’s been fun to support them and watch them have so much success.” Her perspective has shifted since joining the WNBA, and she acknowledged the challenges of not being on the court with her former teammates.

Bueckers also maintains a close relationship with many players from her time at UConn, staying in constant contact through text messages and FaceTime calls. She expressed the importance of this connection: “We just have a great bond.” In her role as a supportive presence, she has made an effort to visit the UConn campus and check in with her teammates regularly.

In a nod to her time as a player, Bueckers even sported her signature double Dutch braids during her visit to the Final Four. Though she had abandoned the hairstyle since turning professional, she hoped it would bring good luck to her former team. “I just wanted to bring it back because I was hoping it would bring good vibes for the UConn game,” she explained. “I just wanted to feel like I was still a part of the team.”

Despite her hopes, the braids were not enough to change the outcome of the game. Bueckers humorously remarked, “I don’t think actually anybody will ever see them again because we lost.” The defeat ended the Huskies’ impressive 54-game winning streak.

As for the rest of the tournament, South Carolina proceeded to face UCLA in the NCAA women’s national championship final on April 5, where UCLA emerged victorious with a 79-51 win. Bueckers, now reflecting on her professional career with the Wings, continues to support her former teammates while forging her path in the WNBA.

The 24-year-old is making waves in the sport, having been chosen as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft shortly after leading UConn to victory. Despite her current commitments, Bueckers shows no signs of forgetting her roots, emphasising the importance of peer support and camaraderie as key components of both on and off-court success.

As she balances her budding professional career and her close ties to UConn, Bueckers sets an example of resilience and dedication for aspiring athletes. She remains optimistic about the future of her former team and looks forward to seeing them rise again in the next season. The bond she has cultivated with her teammates exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and loyalty that defines collegiate athletics.