UConn’s Bueckers named an AP First Team All-American selection
Paige Bueckers already has a place in the UConn record books, and her presence will only become more pronounced in the coming years.
Bueckers reached another significant achievement Wednesday, becoming only the third freshman to earn Associated Press All-American First Team honors. The other two: Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2006) and UConn’s Maya Moore (2008).
The 5-foot-11 guard was joined on the First Team by Louisville’s Dana Evans, South Carolina’s Aliyah
Boston, Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith. She received 28 of a possible 30 first-place votes from a national media panel.
Bueckers leads the Huskies in scoring (19.7), assists (6.1), steals (2.2) and minutes per game (35.8). She also ranks third in the country in 3-point percentage (47.4) and 24th in field-goal percentage (53.9).
This marks the eighth straight year UConn placed someone on the All-American First Team. A total of 17 Huskies have earned 25 First Team honors: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Kara Wolters (1996-97), Nykesha Sales (1998), Svetlana Abrosimova (2000), Shea Ralph (2000), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003-04), Moore (200811), Renee Montgomery (2009), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014-16), Moriah Jefferson (2016), Napheesa Collier (2017-19), Katie Lou Samuelson (201718), Megan Walker (2020) and Bueckers.
UConn juniors Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams received honorable mentions.
The All-American Second Team included NC State’s Elissa Cunane, Michigan’s Naz Hillmon, Arizona’s Aari McDonald, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Texas’ Charli Collier.
Oklahoma State’s Natasha Mack, Maryland’s Ashley Owusu, UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere, Stanford’s Kiana Williams and Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee made the Third Team.
Earlier this month, Bueckers was named Big East Player and Freshman of the Year, joining Moore as the only players to sweep those awards. No freshman has ever won the Naismith, Wooden and AP national player of the year awards, but Bueckers is a candidate for those as well.
In fact, she’d even get
UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s vote.
“Name one player that’s taken a team this young to where we are today,” Auriemma said after the Big East Tournament final against Marquette. “Who’s done more than her? And if you can give me a better argument, then I’d say I’ll vote for them, too. But I don’t think you can. But I’m not going to wear a T-shirt that says ‘Paige for national player of the year.’ And I’m not going to carry a sign around it. And I’m not going to call people and tell them to vote for her. I’ve never done that for anybody. And I’m not going to start today.
“But some people won’t vote for her just because she plays at Connecticut. And she’s got to deal with that, too. And that’s OK. You don’t vote on some awards, like who wins the championship. So she gets my vote.”
The top-seeded Huskies (24-1) begin Women’s NCAA Tournament play against No. 16 High Point Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
ASSISTANT COACH SHEA RALPH RETURNS HOME
UConn women’s basketball assistant coach Shea Ralph has left San Antonio to return home after a member of her family tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the program said.
Ralph has tested negative for COVID-19 each day since March 9, including twice since arriving in San Antonio on Tuesday.
As the Huskies begin preparations for the Women’s NCAA Tournament, they’re down to just two coaches in the bubble — associate head coach Chris Dailey and assistant Jamelle Elliott.
Head coach Geno Auriemma isn’t allowed to rejoin the team until March 24 after testing positive on Sunday.
Top-seeded UConn will begin Women’s NCAA Tournament play against No. 16 High Point on Sunday at 8 p.m. in San Antonio.