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.

One major difference in today’s sports world is a willingness to ignore the stigma attached to seeking professional help and acceptance of psychologists.

The Wooden Award named its five women's college basketball finalists on Tuesday, per ESPN's Kendra Andrews, with UConn's Paige Bueckers, USC's JuJu Watkins, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo making the cut.

Bueckers got back plenty in that game for herself and her teammates, smoothed over the rough patches and was the player who, whenever Auriemma was too deep into the team’s mistakes, could draw him back.

Former NBA player Etan Thomas wrote a column suggesting there was a race factor into why Paige Bueckers' popularity has yet to reach Caitlin Clark heights.

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.

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.

Bueckers advancing is a win for UConn, the Big East, and ESPN. The post Paige Bueckers Extends College Career Another Week appeared first on Front Office Sports.