UConn’s Bueckers says she’s ‘all cleared’
UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers shared images and videos on Instagram from her recovery journey with the caption, "All cleared and ready for takeoff ... 369 days... GOD DID!"
It's unclear whether the senior will participate in UConn's four exhibition games during its 10-day Europe trip next week. UConn coach Geno Auriemma and members of the team are scheduled to speak with the media today ahead of the program's departure for Europe on Monday.
Bueckers tore her left ACL on Aug. 1, 2022, during a pickup game on campus. She had surgery four days later and missed all of last season recovering and rehabbing her knee.
In June, Bueckers told media she was participating in workouts and was still waiting to be cleared for live 5-on-5 drills.
"I'm feeling really good," Bueckers said in mid-June. "... I'm definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and the finishing mark. But there's a long way to go. I mean, ACL recoveries take a long time. But in terms of like playing and getting cleared, I'm very close."
The Hopkins, Minnesota native also missed 19 games during her sophomore year (2021-22) due to a separate left knee injury (a tibial plateau fracture).
Bueckers last played for the Huskies during the 2022 National Championship. She scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes.
Bueckers' return will be huge for the Huskies. Not only will she slip back into the starting point guard slot, but she'll help spread out the offense with her outside shot and with her skilled court vision. Bueckers is second on UConn all-time list with 14 assists in a single game and owns the program's freshman season record for assists at 168.