If there's one comment that you'll hear one thousand times during a UConn Women's basketball broadcast, it's that basketball is in Paige Bueckers' DNA. That statement couldn't be more true, as the point guard from Edina, Minnesota, has made a splash in women's college basketball, despite only playing for two years at the University of Connecticut.
Playing basketball for the UConn Huskies of the Big East Conference is not something basketball players take for granted, especially in the women's game. For Bueckers, it's allowed her to shine on the highest level, earning All-American honors, as well as winning USBWA National Player of the year, USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year in 2021 her freshman year. That's what happens when you average 20 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in your freshman year.
It's no wonder Paige plays in Kyrie Irving's shoes, because she's already sharing a stat line with him.
Playing domestically in the States has brought Bueckers tons of success, but while playing for the USA Basketball Women's National team, Bueckers' has been able to secure more hardware. She won back-to-back Fiba Women's World Cups with the US's under-17 and under-19 teams, where she was named Most Valuable Player. After securing a gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics, it's easy to see why Paige Buckets is one of the top American college basketball players.
The NCAA Division-I star has a bright future in front of her, but it takes a lot of work to get to the level at which she's playing. Thankfully, Bueckers has had the full support of her family the whole way through.
Who Are Paige Bueckers' Parents?
Also, a huge happy birthday to my dad. The guy who has shaped me into the person I am today. I love you so much and am so thankful for all that you do and all of me that you deal with ?? @BobBueckers pic.twitter.com/oiTEEYtrNL
— Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) February 14, 2020
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When Paige was three years old her parents, Bob Bueckers and Amy Dettbarn (now Fuller), got divorced.
With her parents going their separate ways, Paige stayed with her father, who works as a software engineer in Minnesota, while her mother, who works in the dental equipment sales industry, remarried and then moved to Billings, Montana. But their marital status never stood in the way of helping Paige achieve her dreams.
Bob tried to get Paige to try other sports in her early life as a hooper, but basketball was always going to be Paige's love. A track and field coach once offered to buy Paige ice cream if she tried out for the team. Let's just say that two scoops don't make a difference when you're getting buckets.
Bob shared Paige's love for the hardwood, playing point guard in high school and coaching her youth teams when she was in elementary school. Paige and her father would shoot at a park near their house and those training sessions eventually turned into Bob being dragged to the gym every night.
"She literally puts in a ton of time in the gym," Bob said to The Athletic. "Working by herself, watching film, watching other players to see what she can incorporate into her game and just the general progression of each year adding something you might not be so good at."
Bob stopped coaching Paige in the seventh grade, but their drive allowed Paige to make the varsity basketball team at Hopkins High School when she was in the eigth grade. A seamless transition into high school hoops was one that allowed her to become a high-profile high school basketball player almost overnight. After all, they don't put just anyone on the cover of SLAM magazine.
Paige Bueckers' mom was all of us when Paige got fouled
(Paige is fine, though ?) pic.twitter.com/iM0evClnh9
— UConn Videos (@SNYUConn) February 25, 2021
Amy Fuller, Paige's mother, has also been supportive of Paige's basketball career. During her high school years, while playing for Hopkins, Paige and her mother would organize multiple basketball clinics and seminars for young players in Billings, Montana, where her mother lived.
"When you're blessed with talent like she is, she realizes how important it is to give back and influence the community and be a role model for kids," Fuller said in an interview with 406MTSports.com.
How Family Shaped Paige Bueckers
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Paige's family loves supporting her from the stands, regardless of where she's playing. When Paige's double-overtime performance against NC State helped propel the Huskies to the 2022 Final Four, Paige's family was there to cheer her on. Even Paige's grandmother snuck onto the court after the game to surprise the Huskies phenom.
Her siblings, younger brothers Drew, Ryan and younger sister Lauren, have played a huge role in Paige's personal life. In recent years, Paige has been a vocal supporter of racial and social justice and has participated in many Black Lives Matter marches in her home state of Minnesota. Paige has explained that her decision to use her voice and social media platform to make a positive impact, came from her desire to support her brother Drew who is biracial and who she considers her best friend.
"I have a little brother who's mixed with Black and white," Bueckers said in an interview about the UConn Women's socially conscious mindset. "So I don't personally go through it, but I have a little brother who does and I just want him to grow up in a world that accepts Black people and doesn't judge them based on the color of their skin, I'm all for it."
"I just try to use my image to make a positive impact. I'm one of those supporters. Like they say, 'All lives can't matter until Black lives matter' and I'm huge for it."
When winning the ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete, Bueckers used her air time on ESPN's award show to lift up women, and especially women of color, in her acceptance speech.
"With the light that I have now as a White woman who leads a Black-led sport and celebrated here, I want to shed a light on Black women," said Bueckers, as she held her award in her fist. "They don't get the media coverage that they deserve. They've given so much to the sport, the community and society as a whole and their value is undeniable."
"I think it's time for change. Sports media holds the key to storylines. Sports media and sponsors tell us who is valuable, and you have told the world that I mattered today, and everyone who voted, thank you. But I think we should use this power together to also celebrate Black women."
Buckets of Success Turns to Buckets of Opportunity
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Paige Bueckers is not only the future of women's basketball on the court, but she's paving the way for female hoopers off the court. With NIL deals ranging from Gatorade to StockX, Bueckers isn't just adding to her personal net worth, but she's making a statement that we all need to value the efforts of female athletes more than we currently do.
And that's something Paige Bueckers and her whole family can get behind.
