The superstar UConn women’s basketball guard dropped a career-high 40 points in an 82-59 win over Oklahoma to get the Huskies to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season, the 18th time in the last 19 seasons and the 29th time in program history.
‘I felt not so great in the first half, felt a lot better in the second half,’ Bueckers, who recorded 11 first-half points, said postgame. ‘We knew shots would fall. We thought we did well defensively besides a couple mental mistakes that we made as a team, that I made individually.
‘But just sticking with it, sticking to our habits and sticking to what we do. Getting the same shots and trusting that they are going to fall. We work extremely hard as a team and just trusting that and continuing to play our game.’
Bueckers was subbed out with about 3 minutes left, getting a thunderous ovation from the entire crowd in Spokane, Washington.
USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Check it out below.
Paige Bueckers stats, points today
Paige Bueckers scored 40 points against Oklahoma — a new career high and a record for most points by a UConn player in an NCAA Tournament game. She went 16-of-27 shooting (including 6-of-8 from 3) and has 6 boards, an assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers.
Who does UConn women’s basketball play next in Elite Eight?
The Huskies will play No. 1 USC on Monday at 9 p.m. ET. Here is an early preview of UConn vs. USC women’s basketball.
Paige Bueckers career-high points
The UConn guard’s career-high in a game is now 40 points. Her previous career-high was 34 points, achieved twice: Most recently in the second round against South Dakota State and for the first time against Arkansas in November 2021.
UConn women’s basketball scoring leaders
Paige Bueckers (2,375) moved into third on the list after a 40-point performance in the Sweet 16. Maya Moore (3,036), Breanna Stewart (2,676) and Napheesa Collier (2,401) lead the list.
Paige Bueckers scoring in NCAA Tournament
Paige Bueckers’ opened the game against Oklahoma with a 3-pointer, which moved her up the all-time scoring list in the NCAA Tournament. She sits in ninth, ahead of Seimone Augustus and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (374) and just behind Bridgette Gordon (388).
UConn women’s basketball national championships
Paige Bueckers hometown
Paige Bueckers is from Hopkins, Minnesota.
What year is Paige Bueckers?
Bueckers is a fifth-year senior.
How old is Paige Bueckers?
Paige Bueckers is 23 years old.
Paige Bueckers height
The UConn guard is 6 feet tall.
Paige Bueckers pronunciation
Paige Bueckers pronounces her name BECK-ers, according to the UConn 2024-25 media guide.
UConn vs. Oklahoma score after 3Q
Paige Bueckers fueled the Huskies to a 59-46 lead after three quarters. UConn, which was down 36-32 at the half, outscored Oklahoma 27-10 in the third.
Bueckers scored 8 of the Huskies’ first 10 points in the quarter, bringing her to 21 on the day. Sarah Strong has been stuffing the stat sheet, posting a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. Azzi Fudd has 8 points, and Ashlynn Shade has 12 off the bench.
UConn vs. Oklahoma score at halftime
The Sooners led 36-32 at halftime. Oklahoma outscored UConn 24-15 in the second quarter.
Paige Bueckers recorded 11 points for UConn, and Azzi Fudd scored 6. Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold came off the bench to add 8 and 3, respectively.
It was balanced offensive attack in the first two quarters for Oklahoma with all five starters on the score sheet. Payton Verhulst had 13 points, Renya Scott had 8, Raegan Beers had 5, Sahara Williams had 6 and Skylar Vann had 2.
UConn women’s basketball score vs. Oklahoma after 1Q
The Huskies went on an 11-0 run to take a 17-12 after the first quarter.
Paige Bueckers led UConn with 11 points in the frame. Azzi Fudd added 3 points. KK Arnold nabbed two steals and assisted Ashlynn Shade on a layup.
Oklahoma women’s basketball coach
Jennie Baranczyk (pronounced bah-RON-check) has led the Sooners since 2021 and has them in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. Oklahoma went 74-26 in her first three seasons and sits at 27-7 going into today’s game against UConn.
UConn women’s basketball roster
The Huskies score 81.7 points per game (ninth in the country) and shoot 51.3% from the floor, tops in women’s college basketball. In addition to touting Paige Bueckers and her 19.2 points per game, the Huskies get 16.1 points from Sarah Strong and 13.4 points from Azzi Fudd per game. Here is the full UConn women’s basketball roster.
Oklahoma women’s basketball roster
The Sooners average 85.4 points per game (fifth in the country) and shoot 45.8% from the floor, including 32.3% from 3. Center Raegen Beers leads the attack, her 64.5% shooting good for fifth in the country. In addition to Beers’ 17.5 points per game, three other Oklahoma players average double digits in scoring: Payton Verhulst (14.9), Sahara Williams (10.4) and Skylar Vann (10.0). Here is the full Oklahoma women’s basketball roster.
UConn women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma starting lineups
Oklahoma: Reyna Scott, Payton Verhulst, Zya Vann, Sahara Williams, Raegan Beers
UConn: Paige Bueckers, Jana El Alfy, Kaitlyn Chen, Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd stats
Azzi Fudd’s collegiate career won’t end following the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament. Fudd, who played just two games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn ACL, has averaged 13.4 points on 48.6% shooting, two rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 30 games, including 26 starts, this year
During the NCAA Tournament, Fudd posted 27 points on 10 of 13 shooting, seven assists and six steals in a first-round victory over Arkansas State. Fudd then recorded 17 points and two steals in the 91-57 win over South Dakota State in the second round.
UConn vs. Oklahoma women’s basketball predictions
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: UConn
Meghan L. Hall, For The Win: UConn
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: UConn
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UConn
Cory Diaz, Lafayette Advertiser: UConn
Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times: UConn
WNBA mock draft 2025
As the women’s NCAA tournament in disarray weeks ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft. So as March Madness push for a national championship continues, let’s review Meghan L. Hall’s latest WNBA mock draft from For The Win to see who has helped their stock during the first two rounds of March Madness.
March Madness women’s schedule
Here is the schedule for the remainder of the tournament.
Elite Eight
Sunday, March 30
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Duke, 1 p.m. on ABC
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU, 3 p.m. on ABC
Monday, March 31
No. 2 TCU vs. No. 1 Texas, 7 p.m. on ESPN
No. 1 USC vs. No. 2 UConn, 9 p.m. on ESPN
Both Final Four games on are Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET. ESPN will air the contests. The national championship game is Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ABC will carry the game.
Is Paige Bueckers entering WNBA draft?
Yes. She said as much on Friday. The 2025 WNBA draft isn’t called the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes for nothing. Bueckers burst onto the scene in 2021 with a breakout freshman campaign that earned her AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year honors. Although a string of injuries forced Bueckers to miss significant time, including the entire 2022-23 season with an ACL tear, the fifth-year senior guard has returned to form and is looking to lead the Huskies to the Final Four for the fourth time in her career. Bueckers is currently UConn women’s basketball’s sixth all-time leading scorer with 2,290 points and is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. — Cydney Henderson