Paige Bueckers may be considered one of, if not the best, player in college basketball. Even though the UConn Huskies star is headed to the 2025 Final Four, it doesn't mean she's had an easy road to get there.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma caused a minor stir during last year’s NCAA Tournament when he proclaimed that his star guard, Paige Bueckers, was the best player in the country.

Paige Bueckers carried UConn to its record 24th Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament, scoring 31 points Monday night in a 78-64 victory over Southern California, which couldn't overcome the loss of injured star JuJu Watkins.

The No. 2 Huskies downed No. 1 USC 78-64 in the Elite Eight on Monday as the Trojans were without star JuJu Watkins, who suffered a torn ACL in the Round of 32. The Final Four appearance is the 24th for the Huskies, the most of any program in women's college basketball history.

Among the Trojans' 28 victories was a tightly contested, 72-70 win over UConn in December. Watkins was the star of the game, leading all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

When Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma sat down at the dais after punching their ticket to Tampa for the Final Four, Auriemma pointed to the box score on a sheet of paper. Not to the fact that she played all 40 minutes or scored a game-high 31 points.

So, while the basketball at UConn is still available to her, this time with her teammates is available, the chance to put on that No. 5 Huskies jersey one more time is available, Bueckers will be that player. She will shoot 27 times. She will take over a game. She will not take for granted any moment on the floor.

Paige Bueckers carried UConn to its record 24th Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament, scoring 31 points Monday night in a 78-64 victory over USC.

Freshman Sarah Strong added 22 points and 17 rebounds for the second-seeded Huskies, who have won a record 11 NCAA titles, all under coach Geno Auriemma.