Paige Bueckers Shocked Everyone in the Most Dramatic Way that Dawn Staley is Forced to get Heated

UConn blew out South Carolina in a stunning performance.

Paige Bueckers (left) and Dawn Staley (right) during the UConn-South Carolina game.LAPRESSE

With Caitlin Clark leaving for the WNBA, someone had to step in her shoes and deal with the sky-high expectations of becoming the next star in women’s college basketball. Paige Bueckers was the natural heir to that throne, but she has been overshadowed by the incredible JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo. Bueckers is still having a fine season, but it hasn’t been what she and many expected.

Bueckers’ recent struggles had fans concerned as the NCAA Tournament nears, particularly in a loss to Tennessee on the road in which she couldn’t find her shot. But since then, the UConn Huskies have rattled off three straight wins, including a shocking 29-point win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday. What made the performance even more impressive was that Bueckers only shot 25% from the field. She filled the stat sheet in other areas, though, notching seven rebounds and handing out 10 assists.

Way to go! Paige Bueckers becomes UConn Huskies legend with 2,000 career points in 102 games

Paige Bueckers equals Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore in record books

That type of all-around game has made her the top player she is today, and not many can do what she does. In fact, Bueckers became only the third player in UConn program history to reach 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. Only Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore had accomplished that.

A win of this caliber has the potential to really galvanize the Huskies. Meanwhile, it also has the potential to unravel the Gamecocks.

Dawn Staley wonders what’s going on in South Carolina players’ heads

That could be amplified after what South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said about her team following the loss. Staley called out her players’ toughness and implored them to stay focused on the task at hand.

South Carolina could take a slight tumble in the Top 25 following this game, with the Huskies likely to move up. The Gamecocks and Huskies are still projected to be 1 or 2 seeds in the tournament.