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Paige Bueckers Confesses Lingering 'Sick' Feeling Towards Old Caitlin Clark Game
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings, left UConn as one of the program's most decorated players.

She was able to go out with the perfect swan song, leading the program to its first title since 2015-16. However, even with a career that saw her be crowned a champion, be named the AP Player of the Year, and be selected as a unanimous All-American three times, there is still a moment from her time in Storrs that haunts Bueckers.

As revealed in a recent interview with Time's Sean Gregory, Bueckers still thinks about her team's Final Four loss to Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023-24.

“I’m still sick about that game,” Bueckers said. “The weeks after it, I just felt so disappointed, frustrated with how it ended. But then, like always, the motivation piece kicks in, where you don’t ever want to feel that feeling again.”

The Huskies came up just short, losing 71-69 despite leading by as many as 12 points. That game was also one of the more iconic Clark showings, as she went from being held scoreless in the first half to exploding for 21 points in the second half.

While Bueckers didn't get another crack at Clark at the college level, she was able to secure what had been an elusive title this past season. 

As for their rivalry, it is set to be rekindled at the WNBA level in the next month. Bueckers' Wings will host Clark's Indiana Fever on June 27 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. 

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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NBA

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