For UConn fans around the country, April 6, 2025, will go down as a night to remember with the UConn Women’s Basketball team securing their 12th NCAA championship title and defeating last year’s winner, University of South Carolina, with an impressive 82-59 win. The whole team contributed to their success, but Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong played an especially amazing game. While fans are in awe of UConn’s stellar performance, most fans don’t realize the hard-fought journey the athletes braved to accomplish such a feat.
Their star player, senior guard Paige Bueckers, was key to UConn’s historic season. Throughout the season, Bueckers stepped up as a senior leader and mentor to the younger players, including freshman Sarah Strong. Her leadership on and off the court, such as motivating others, significantly impacted the team’s ability to achieve their goals. Bueckers holds an impressive list of achievements and awards including Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award, and being 2025 WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick. Additionally, Paige led her team with 53 blocks this season and averaged 20 points per game. She thrives under pressure and is able to sink threes or pop-up shots at any given moment. In addition to her sheer agility and athleticism, Paige dominates the mental side of basketball with incredible court awareness and quick decision-making.
Although Paige Bueckers is the undisputed all-around MVP for UConn, teammate Azzi Fudd’s restless defense and seemingly effortless threes proved just as essential in the championship game. Fudd finished with 24 points, 5 steals, and 5 rebounds against reigning champion South Carolina. Moreover, Fudd was named the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Although Azzi is a senior, she will be playing with the team one more year due to an ACL injury that caused her to be red-shirted in her junior season.
Freshman forward, Sarah Strong, also contributed a total of 24 points and 5 assists. For her young age, Strong is a well-rounded player who likes to score in the paint. In line with her last name, she plays exceptionally strong and aggressive, leading to a total of 15 rebounds in the championship game alone.
The UConn team overcame extreme hardships which made the title even sweeter for the players. The team has a history of major injuries, including star player Paige Bueckers, who was out her sophomore season with an ACL tear. Although this injury set her back, Bueckers, strong in her faith, believes that everything happens for a reason. In a recent interview, she stated, “It is a championship of destiny and God’s perfect plan.” Additionally, Azzi Fudd also suffered from her second ACL tear during the end of the 2023-24 season. This series of injuries only seemed to strengthen the bond between the two best friends, and, in turn, the team.
The tight relationship of the team also ultimately improved their game and factored into their success. The girls were often seen hanging out outside of practices, joking around with each other, and even making funny TikToks. Their friendship allowed for better communication and problem-solving on the court, and increased trust in one another. In addition to close friendships on the team, each of the girls, especially Paige, were close with the coaching staff. When talking about head coach Geno Auriemma, in a recent interview after the game, Paige states, “I love that man more than words can describe.” Their bond is stronger than most players and coaches, as both were seen crying in each other’s arms after winning the championship game. If any words could sum up their final game of the season, it would be that UConn did not win as a team—they won as a family.
Recently the UConn Huskies had an exciting championship win against University of South Carolina. This win solidified there 12th NCAA championship title, and UConn now leads with the highest number of championship wins in all of college basketball.
