Paige Bueckers is officially a two-time national player of the year. On Thursday, the fifth-year superstar earned the 2025 Wade Trophy, given to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Associatation’s women’s college player of the year. She and Sarah Strong were also named WBCA All-Americans, securing the freshman’s spot in the Huskies of Honor (as long as she graduates).
In 2020-21, Bueckers claimed the AP, Naismith, USBWA and Wooden national player of the year awards but couldn’t win the Wade Trophy because freshmen weren’t eligible at the time (the restriction has since been lifted). Now in her final year at UConn, she’ll bring home the one that eluded her.
Following another strong regular season, Bueckers has taken over in the postseason — especially during the NCAA Tournament. In the Huskies’ four March Madness contests, she’s averaged 29.0 points on 58.7 percent shooting, including a 40-piece in the Sweet Sixteen, while being named the Spokane 4 Region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Overall, Bueckers leads UConn with 20.1 points and 4.8 assists while ranking second nationally with a 3.49 assist-to-turnover ratio.
She’s the seventh Husky to win the Wade Trophy, joining Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Maya Moore (2009-11) and Breanna Stewart (2015-16). Bueckers is the fourth player in program history to be named national player of the year in multiple seasons, joining Taurasi (2003-04), Moore (2009-11) and Stewart (2014-16).
As for the All-American honor, Bueckers has now made the WBCA’s 10-player team for the third time in her career (2021, 2024). Meanwhile, Strong earns the nod as a freshman, joining Moore and Bueckers as the only other players in program history to do so.
Strong has been sensational during her first season in Storrs, averaging 16.1 points while leading UConn in rebounds, steals and blocks. In the postseason, she’s put up a double-double in six of seven games and landed on the Spokane 4 All-Region Team. Strong was previously named an All-American by the Associated Press (second team) and USBWA (third team) while also taking home the WBCA’s Freshman of the Year award.
Bueckers has won practically every individual accolade she could throughout her career but she’ll try to capture the elusive national championship this weekend in her fourth Final Four appearance. UConn will take on UCLA in the national semifinal on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.