Paige Bueckers' historic night overshadowed by an old demon as March Madness looms

On a night in which she moved past a living legend on the University of Connecticut's all-time scoring list, Paige Bueckers had a face-to-face encounter with a demon she has been trying to banish.

If it feels like Bueckers has been in the spotlight for a long time, that's because...well, it's true. A top high school recruit from the famed class of 2020, Bueckers has suffered injuries throughout her NCAA career -- including a tibial fracture in 2021 and a knee injury that cost her the entire 2022/23 season. Throughout it all, Bueckers has remained a top-flight prospect and the overwhelming favorite to be picked first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft -- but the injury bug seems always to be hovering above the star guard.

Bueckers' latest injury scare amid significant scoring mark

Bueckers on Wednesday scored a game-high 23 points to help the #5 Huskies to a dominant 91-49 win over Seton Hall. But fans had to hold their breath as Bueckers hobbled to the locker room at halftime, putting no weight on her right knee.

However, Bueckers returned to play the third quarter and sat out the fourth quarter with the result beyond doubt. After the game, she eased fears around her health by saying she was "alright".

Another injury would have blighted another stellar night for Bueckers, who ed Diana Taurasi for ninth place on UConn's all-time scoring list. Taurasi, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, has played in the WNBA for 20 years and is the league's all-time leading scorer; it remains unknown if the 42-year-old will play again for the Phoenix Mercury as she weighs retirement.

If Taurasi retires, fans will not get to see her go up against Bueckers in The W. The 23-year-old is widely expected to head to the Dallas Wings as the top overall pick in April's draft...but first, she hopes to lead UConn to a national championship, which would be the program's first in nine years.