FILES – UConn’s Paige Bookers will attempt to top South Carolina’s Blair Beale at the Women’s Final Four NCAA tournament on Sunday, April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis. Bookers tore the ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire 2022-23 season, the school announced Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
APs
STORRS, Connecticut.
Paige Bookers plans to play basketball in Connecticut in the 2023-24 season after recovering from an ACL injury that kept him out this season.
Speaking on campus for the first time since his injury, Buckers vowed not to participate in the 2023 WNBA Draft and would return to play college ball.
“I’m not leaving. It doesn’t matter,” Bookers, 21, said during a media availability on Thursday. What do you think about the shirt?’ I’m not thinking too far ahead, but I’m going to play college basketball again.”
Bookers suffered an injury in the 2021-22 season. She missed most of the season with her tibial plateau fracture and a torn lateral meniscus in her left knee. The Minnesota native returned to his NCAA Tournament last spring and contributed to his game for the title UConn lost to No. 1 South Carolina. In his 17 games last season, Buckers averaged 14.6 points.
Viewkers is expected to miss the next season after injuring the same knee in a pick-up game in early August.
“I was running full speed and I tried to stop, but there was some contact, but not much.” It was frustrating, I didn’t know how serious it was, but I knew something was wrong.”
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Other AP Women’s College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https:/ /twitter.com/AP_Top25
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 12:47 PM.
