One of the most documented stars in the history of NCAA Women’s Basketball had a moment to pay homage to someone else after helping her team capture national championship.
Greatness was supposed to happen for Paige Bueckers, but it took many hurdles to overcome.
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The former five-star achieved numerous individual accolades, but she hoisted her first-ever NCAA Tournament trophy for the UConn Huskies after its victory over South Carolina in Sunday’s championship game. Bueckers recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists to go alongside seven rebounds and a steal. She shared an emotional hug with someone who challenged her, believed in her, and watched her growth every step of the way: Geno Auriemma, her head coach. In the height of the moment, Bueckers credited her faith in God for guiding her to a national championship but she also a late, great NBA legend.
Paige Bueckers was asked if she’s thought about that Gigi Bryant could have been on this team. She says that there have been a lot of things this week where she’s felt that connection, including her mom staying in room 824.
“God’s presence has really been showing out”@UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/8xZ4EqUCgL
— Claire Foley (@clairefoleytv) April 6, 2025
“There have been times this whole weekend and throughout the whole tournament where God has really shown himself,” Bueckers said in her postgame presser. “My mom staying in room 824, which are both of Kobe’s numbers, stuff like that where Abby our friend that we lost this year … her presence has been palpable. My teammate, my former teammate Amaya Battle, her mom passed away and she was a family friend to me. They won the WNIT and now we are winning the national championship, so I feel like it has been a very blessed year. Win or lose it has been a very blessed year, but God’s presence has really been showing out in the little things. You can just see his presence it is so palpable. I feel like a lot of it is Kobe watching over us, Gigi (Gianna Bryant) is watching over us, Abby, Stephanie Battle, and everybody. … I felt their presence for sure.”
Before his tragic death on Jan. 26, 2020, Bryant was starting to give back to the game of basketball in a special way.
He took interest in the UConn Huskies program and his daughter, Gianna, was expected to be a future member of the school as she took strongly to her father’s “Mamba Mentality.” Both were lost in a helicopter accident and the pain was felt all over the sports community. Bryant was trending toward being an ambassador for the women’s college game. He spent time around those ladies and they considered him a mentor. GiGi and Bueckers could have been teammates this season if not for the tragedy.
“Paige Buckets” is a national champion, but she knows it would not have happened without those in her corner.
Bryant is no longer with us, but his presence pushed the Huskies to a title.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
