TAMPA, Fla. — With 1:32 left in the fourth quarter, while huddled with her teammates during a stoppage in play, Paige Bueckers heard her name called. It was UConn freshman Allie Ziebell, and she handed her superstar teammate a towel.
This was no towel of surrender. But one of accomplishment. A towel of rest, representing the peace resulting from a job well done. Bueckers grabbed it and walked toward the Huskies bench. Her countenance softened, her disposition relaxed. She saw the hug of completion awaiting.
“So many emotions,” Bueckers said. “Gratitude was the main one — of the journey, of the ups and downs, everything that it took to get to that point.”
Geno Auriemma, her coach, her sensei, her advocate, often the thorn in her side, now and forever the bark in her conscience, became the warmth at the end of an epic journey. His arms wrapping around her in a triumphant embrace gave Bueckers permission to stop and feel the reward of her labor.
For this moment, if only for this moment, she could put down the plow. Her Huskies were but moments from a confetti shower following Sunday’s 82-59 trouncing of South Carolina. She could turn off the fire that’s been burning. She could dismount the guard her stature and fame requires erecting. She could relinquish whatever…
