Paige Bueckers sustained a season-ending torn ACL injury in her left knee on Monday, following a game of pick-up basketball, the UConn Women’s team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The team’s official website said that Bueckers had undergone an MRI on Monday to identify the injury, and was confirmed to have torn her ACL the same day.
Head coach Geno Auriemma also released a statement following the news of his star point guard injury, saying that despite this unfortunate setback, Paige will still be leading the team from the sidelines.
“We’re all devastated for Paige,” he said. “She’s worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback. Paige is obviously an amazing basketball player but she’s a better person and teammate and it’s really unfortunate that this has happened to her.”
Coach Geno continued, “We’ll miss her presence on the court, but she’ll do everything she can to still lead and help her teammates this season. Our program will support Paige through her healing process to help her come back better and stronger.”
Shortly after the news broke, Bueckers also shared a lengthy message alongside a series of pictures of when she was younger, vowing to make a speedy return.
“I’ve worked too hard for the little kid in these pictures to keep going for the dreams Ive had since I first picked up the ball, so why would I stop now? The prayers and love means so much to me and the doubts that I won’t get back to where I was might mean even more,” she wrote in part.
Bueckers averaged roughly 14 points per game last season and led UConn to the NCAA Women’s championship game where they fell to South Carolina. She is set to undergo surgery for her injury on Friday.
