By: Nina Samone
Junior UConn women’s basketball guard Paige Bueckers suffered an ACL injury – Anterior Cruciate Ligament – in her left knee on Monday.
The injury was confirmed Monday evening with an MRI and will cause Bueckers to miss the 2022-23 basketball season.
Bueckers will undergo surgery Friday at UConn health.
Head UConn coach Geno Auriemma made a statement on the matter.
“We’re all devastated for Paige. She’s worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback,” said. Auriemma. “Our program will support Paige through her healing process to come back better and stronger.”
Bueckers is one of the most visible basketball players of her time, at just 20 years old she has a brand that goes beyond basketball and consists of over 1 million Instagram followers and NIL deals with companies like Gatorade and StockX.
Bueckers was the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2020, was named Gatorade’s 2020 basketball player of the year and lead Hopkins high school to an undefeated state championship in 2019 and an undefeated season in 2020 before the championship was cancelled due to COVID-19.
“I’ve worked too hard for the little kid in these pictures to keep going for the dreams I’ve had since I first picked up the ball, so why would I stop now?” Paige wrote in an Instagram post.
“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.”
Sources:
August 2022. UCONN. “Paige Bueckers Suffers Torn ACL, Will Miss 2022-23 Season.” <https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2022/8/3/womens-basketball-paige-bueckers-suffers-torn-acl-will-miss-2022-23-season.aspx>
Anthony, Mike. August 3, 2022. CT Insider. “UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers to miss season with torn ACL.” <https://www.ctinsider.com/uconn/article/UConn-women-s-basketball-star-Paige-Bueckers-to-17348951.php>
