Every year before the start of the college basketball season, respected sports journalism publications release their list of forecasted standings and statistics across the sport. Paige Bueckers, a University of Connecticut women’s basketball player, was named to the preseason All-America first team lists of both the Associated Press and the New York Times, according to announcements by both outlets.
The All-America designation, given to outstanding athletes in a variety of collegiate sports, is voted on by a 30-member national panel of sports journalists for women’s college basketball, according to the Associated Press. The Athletic, the sports imprint of the New York Times, publishes their own All-America lists.
Bueckers, considered a red-shirt senior under NCAA regulations, is in her fifth and final year of college play this season. She also has the title of Big East conference preseason player of the year, reprising it from last season. The accolades are nothing new, having been named to the All-America first team following the 2023-24 season by the AP, the Women’s Basketball Coach’s Association and the US Basketball Writers’ Association. Bueckers was also similarly named to the preseason first team in 2021, in addition to numerous conference and national honors and received awards like being named a McDonald’s All-American player during her high school tenure in Hopkins, Minnesota.
“She’s the GOAT for a reason,” said Jalen Suggs in 2021, then a freshman guard for the Gonzaga men’s team. He now plays for the Orlando Magic in the NBA; but grew up in Minnesota not far from Bueckers.
Four other players round out this year’s unanimous All-America first team – Juju Watkins, a sophomore wing for the University of Southern California; Hannah Hidalgo, a sophomore guard for Notre Dame; Madison Booker, a sophomore wing from the University of Texas and Kiki Iriafen, a senior forward also from USC. The Athletic also named Lauren Betts, a junior center from UCLA to their first team list; Betts received seven votes from the AP’s panel amongst other players from schools including South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU.
The announcement coincides with Bueckers and Huskies teammate Azzi Fudd both being named to the 2024-25 Naismith Trophy Women’s Player of the Year watchlist, according to an announcement by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, sponsor of the award. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in collaboration with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association also selected the duo to be added to the watchlists of their awards, with Bueckers for the 2025 Nancy Lieberman Award and Fudd for the 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.
The preseason fanfare comes as Bueckers plays her last season at UConn, dubbed a “farewell tour” by fans and media outlets. She is expected to be the number one overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, according to CBS Sports, ESPN and independent sports analysts.
“As of right now, I have a whole season ahead of me, so that’s all I’m really focused on,” Bueckers said at the Big East Conference media day, according to prior reporting by the Daily Campus.
The Huskies’ first women’s basketball game this year will be a home exhibition against the Fort Hays State Tigers on Sunday Nov. 3. Fans can catch the game on Connecticut sports television channel the Wax (WWAX Channel 27 and WFSB Channel 3.4) and on the UConn Huskies Radio Network.
For more information about athletics and team schedules, visit uconnhuskies.com.