What you should know about former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers

Paige Bueckers tore up the basketball scene in Minnesota during her high school career at Hopkins.

But now, Bueckers, who just became the first woman to win the Associated Press Player of the Year award as a freshman, has stepped into the national spotlight as she’s led UConn to the 2021 Final Four.

Welcome to the Paige Party. Bueckers has been a delight to watch throughout her freshman season with UConn, and she somehow seemed to turn up her volume for the NCAA Tournament. Here’s what you need to know about Bueckers:

She’s ahead of even UConn’s best

UConn has had no shortage of game-changing players: Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi. But not one of them has earned all of the accolades Bueckers has as a freshman. Even Stewart was “only” named a Big East Honorable Mention for her first season. Bueckers was named the Big East Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year — only Moore has picked up that honor — and both ESPNw’s and AP’s Player of the Year.

They can play a little bit of basketball in Minneapolis

Bueckers and Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs both grew up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Being the two biggest basketball playing stars of the area, they became good friends. Now on opposite sides of the country, they text each other before and after games and watch each other play as much as they can.

Not time for the WNBA – yet

The most recent WNBA collective bargaining agreement, signed in 2020, means Bueckers won’t be able to be a one-and-done player at UConn. WNBA prospects have to have graduated, be on track to graduate, or turn 22 to be eligible for the WNBA Draft. She said she’s focused on what she can do now, which is play college ball.

She’s ready for the pressure

Despite her youth, Bueckers is clearly comfortable with pressure-filled situations. She hit 3-pointers to clinch the games against Tennessee and South Carolina. Head coach Geno Auriemma assumed he’d treat her like other touted recruits, such as Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart, and bring her along slowly. She showed early in UConn’s practices that she was ready for more.

Her trophy case already has some gold

Before she even started at UConn, Bueckers started playing for USA Basketball’s youth teams. She won gold at the Youth Olympics 3-on-3 tournament, and three golds at FIFA’s Women’s World Cup.

Bally Sports North contributed to this post.