UConn star Paige Bueckers is close to returning from ACL injury

On Wednesday, about 10 months removed from the injury, she stood in front of reporters inside Werth Champions Center and reflected back on her recovery journey, how far she’s come and how far she has to go, while also being open about her goals for next season and her future in Storrs.

While she’s still not 100 percent back, Bueckers has been an active participant in UConn’s summer workouts and practices thus far and is now just waiting to be cleared for live action 5-on-5 drills.

“I’m feeling really good,” Bueckers said. “… I’m definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and the finishing mark. But there’s a long way to go. I mean, ACL recoveries take a long time. But in terms of like playing and getting cleared, I’m very close.”

After a historic freshman season when she was named the National Player of the Year in 2020-21, Bueckers has spent the past two seasons hindered by injuries.

A tibial plateau fracture in her left knee sidelined her for 19 games during her true sophomore year. She returned just in time for the postseason yet it was clear during the national championship game that she wasn’t quite herself.

Then came August 1, 2022.

Bueckers tore the ACL on her left knee during a pickup game on campus. Despite just getting back her strength from the previous injury, she found herself again sidelined. And this time for longer, as she was ruled out for the entire 2022-23 season.

“I was asking like, ‘Why? Like this doesn’t make sense,’ ” she said. “Like, I was feeling healthy, like strong. I just come back from a different knee injury. So, like, ‘Why now? Why me?’ ”

Bueckers spent the whole year rehabbing her knee.

There were good days and bad days. She leaned on her faith and having Ice Brady (also out all last season due to a knee injury) by her side to relate to. The two kept each other motivated during their rehab and attended church on Sundays together to build their faith.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve leaned on in my faith is don’t lean on my own understanding,” Bueckers said. “There’s just some things in life that you’ll never understand. But God does everything for a reason. And I think God is using this and me as a testament to how much you can overcome with Him by your side and how much He can do for you. I feel like when I can’t do it, He’ll carry me through. So, I think my faith has made me stop questioning why because I just trust.”

Watching the Huskies on the bench…