TAMPA, Fla. — It had been a nine-year wait for UConn to get its 12th national championship. But after the No. 2 seed Huskies finished their run through three No. 1 seeds — USC, UCLA and 82-59 vs. South Carolina in the NCAA final Sunday — they won a title that means a little more because of the journey that came before it.
After winning four championships in a row from 2013 to 2016 behind superstar Breanna Stewart, the Huskies hit a series of roadblocks with tough losses and injury heartbreaks.
But on Sunday, the Huskies moved to the top of the women’s basketball world again, sending senior guard Paige Bueckers — who is expected to be the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick on April 14 — out with her first national championship.
A tearful Bueckers buried her face in coach Geno Auriemma’s shoulder as they hugged on the sideline when she exited the game with just over a minute left, mission at last accomplished.
“It’s been a story of resilience, of gratitude, of overcoming adversity and just responding to life’s challenges,” Bueckers said.
With guards Bueckers…
