Paige Bueckers consoles JuJu Watkins after Elite 8 showdown
Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins had an epic Elite Eight showdown as UConn beat USC 80-73 to advance to the women’s Final Four.
Watkins, just a freshman for the Trojans, was impressive all season including on Monday night. However, she was overcome by emotion after falling short and Bueckers, a veteran, came to console her.
You can see the display of sportsmanship below.
In the win, Bueckers finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists across 40 minutes of play. Watkins played 39 minutes and finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
“Yeah, I think success is a process,” Bueckers said when asked what advice she’d give to Watkins. “It’s tough, especially as a freshman to be leading your team like that, have no experience in this sort of environment, on this stage, and lead your team. You feel a lot of pressure.
“But for her to have the year she had as a freshman, fearless, confident, one of the best players in the country, she’s got a lot to build on. I know getting here, feeling this loss, we’ve been a part of it, it’s very motivating. It lets you build experience on how to be better, how to learn from it. So just take the good, continue to build on that, and focus on what you need to work on and do that, too.”
Paige Bueckers wins showdown over JuJu Watkins
Bueckers had a long journey to this point, missing the last two seasons due to injuries. One of the star players of the women’s game, Bueckers proved why she was considered one of the best players in the game.
Perhaps Watkins will be at that level, if she isn’t already. But Bueckers certainly soaked in the moment.
“Yeah, last year was — the last couple years have been really challenging on my mental, of me finding joy outside of the game, finding joy in the process, finding joy in trials and tribulations,” Bueckers said postgame.
“I feel like I’ve had adversity thrown my way, but at the same time I’m super blessed. I got surgery for free, I got rehab for free. I’m surrounded by the best teammates, best coaching staff. So many people have helped me get to where I’m at today.”
Like any other veteran, Bueckers kept it in perspective.
“Looking at the positives in life, what I do have, instead of focusing on what I don’t,” Bueckers said. “Again, trying to be the best teammate I can be. It could be easy for me to sulk and be upset and just be sad about what life has thrown me this past couple years, or I could attack it with the mentality of being a leader, still being in the gym smiling, motivating people, being a leader in how I worked …
“Just today was one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve ever felt in my life, just seeing where I was a year ago, today, doing individual workouts, starting to feel the basketball again, get the ball in my hands again and play. Now I’m here with my teammates and coaching staff and going to the Final Four.”