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In the first multiple-overtime game ever in a women’s regional final, Paige Bueckers carried UConn to its record-extending 14th straight Final Four.
The reigning Player of the Year scored 15 of her game-high 27 points in the extra periods in UConn’s 91-87 double-OT win over NC State on Monday.
Per league rules, Bueckers will not be eligible for the WNBA Draft until 2023. But she’s already a superstar — and arguably the face of women’s college basketball — with the NIL success to prove it.
- The 20-year-old became Gatorade’s first college athlete partner in November, and also has NIL deals with StockX and Cash App.
- She has the highest earning potential per social media post ($62.9K) among all remaining March Madness athletes.
- Last summer, the Wall Street Journal projected Bueckers could earn $1M per year.
- Under the WNBA’s current rookie scale, she would be eligible for a three-year, $226,668 deal — with a $91,181 club option for a fourth year.
Of course, Geno Auriemma’s squad is bigger than one superstar: Guards Azzi Fudd and Christyn Williams combined for 40 points Monday, leading the offense before Bueckers’ late explosion.
UConn will need all their depth with trusted forward Dorka Juhasz (wrist) likely out for the rest of the tournament.
The Huskies are second favorites (+250) for a national title and will have to get past powerhouse Stanford (+350) on Friday, and then likely the championship favorite, South Carolina (-125).
