UConn star and former National Player of the Year Paige Bookers will miss the entire 2022-23 season with an ACL tear in his left knee. The school announced Wednesday.
Buckers was injured during a pick-up game and had an MRI on Monday, which confirmed a torn ACL, according to the school.
“We are all devastated for Paige,” head coach Geno Auriemma said in a news release. is an unfortunate setback.Paige is clearly a great basketball player, but she’s a better person and a better teammate.It’s really unfortunate that this happened to her.We will miss her. Despite her on-court presence, she will continue to do everything she can to lead and help her teammates this season.
“Our program will support her healing process to help Paige come back better and stronger.”
Buckers, who entered his junior season, underwent surgery at UConn Health on Friday and has an updated schedule for his return.
Viewkers injury history
The Husky star missed most of his sophomore season last year With non-contact leg injuries. She also underwent ankle surgery in April 2021.
Bookers returned and led UConn to the national championship game, where they lost to South Carolina. She is one of the brightest stars in college basketball, men’s or women’s, and has amassed a long list of names, images, and similar contracts that demonstrate her popularity and talent.
“It’s so crazy that I’m working so hard to get my health back, feeling stronger than ever, playing my best basketball and all of a sudden a move can change everything,” she wrote on Instagram. “It’s hard trying to understand everything now, but I can’t help but think that God is using me as a testimony to how much I can overcome if He’s by my side.
“A little kid who’s just had a torn ACL or has had major surgery may need this story P because it’s going to be a hell of a comeback. There will be good days and there will be bad days. My absolute love.I worked too hard for the little one in this photo and ever since I first picked up the ball, I have been on my way to the dream I had. Do you want to quit now?
“Prayer and love mean so much to me, and the fear of not being able to get back to where I came from may mean even more. God has given my heart a dream. Even if I have to walk through nightmares to get it, I’ll keep believing… All love, P.”
Bookers averaged 20 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game during his freshman season. She won Naismith her National Player of the Year and was the first freshman to win the Associated Press Player of the Year.
Bookers Injury: Title Chance for UConn in 2023
When Bookers arrived at Storrs as the No. 1 recruit in the 2020 class, the talk of the town was four titles in four years. But at the same time that injuries have plagued the program, more schools are investing in the team, making it a Final Four contender every year.
Class of 2021’s No. 1 Recruit, Azzi Fudd, has joined UConn to further raise hopes for a retitle. However, Fudd also worked through the injury, and Buckers underwent surgery for an anterior tibia plateau fracture.
Bookers returned in February, averaging 14.6 points and 4 rebounds in 17 games. She was 35% from her 54.4% and her 3-point range.made by huskies The title game in Beukers’ hometown, However, they were overwhelmed by the Gamecocks and the 2021-22 Naismith Player of the Year Aliyah Boston.
UConn’s chances of coming back are lessened if Bueckers comes out again, but not gone. They should replace the productivity of Olivia Nelson Ododa, Evina Westbrook and Kristin Williams in the WNBA Draft.
Fudd is now a trusted top scorer, averaging 12.1 points on a 45.7% shooting percentage. Canada’s Aaliyah Edwards has had a difficult season, but he’s one of the game’s leading forwards. Dorka Juhas should be ready to come back after the broken wrist he suffered in the NCAA Regional Finals. This is another example of an injury recently dealt with by UConn.
And they have two top five recruits to join the roster. Ice Brady was one of 12 players named for 2022. National team u18 roster for june. She is ranked 5th in the 2022 class by ESPN HoopGurlz. And Ayanna Patterson finished fourth.
The Huskies are no stranger to lengthy title drafts like this, where the 11-time national champion hasn’t won since 2016, the last of four straight titles under Breanna Stewart at the helm.
