Paige Bueckers: Faith on Display in Women’s Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – UConn women’s basketball superstar Paige Bueckers has never been one to shy away from sharing her Christian faith, and now she’s witnessing a growing trend among her peers.
The 23-year-old phenom has consistently expressed her gratitude to God and cited Bible verses after standout performances on the court. Her most recent display came during a dominant 91-49 win at Catholic institution Seton Hall, where she dropped 23 points.
During the postgame press conference, Bueckers shared her observations on the increasing visibility of faith in women’s basketball and sports in general.
"Yeah, I think people are more outward in their faith and more comfortable talking about it," she said.
Bueckers emphasized that by embracing her faith publicly, she hopes to foster a more welcoming environment for others to do the same.
"I feel like the more you see it, the more popularized it becomes, and the more comfortable everybody comes with it," she explained. "But yeah, I definitely think it’s growing in terms of being outspoken about it."
Christianity has played a central role in Bueckers’ basketball journey. After suffering a torn ACL in August 2022, she drew strength from her faith to guide her recovery.
"It’s hard trying to make sense of it all now, but I can’t help but think that God is using me as a testimony as to how much you can overcome with Him by your side," she wrote on Instagram.
Six months later, Bueckers credited "God’s timing" for her remarkable recovery.
"Beauty in the struggle… [six] months down (yesterday) God’s timing is never off, keep working," she wrote.
Upon her return to the court for the 2023-24 season, Bueckers led UConn to the Final Four. After scoring 32 points against Syracuse in the second round of the tournament, she reflected on the power of prayer.
"I prayed so hard a year ago today to be in my shoes where I’m at right now, so just to appreciate it, especially playing here in front of the best fans in the country with the best teammates and the best coaching staff in the world," she said. "I give all glory to God, all glory to my coaching staff, and my teammates for instilling that confidence within me just to have fun and play my game."
As Bueckers prepares for her final March Madness run, she sees other women’s basketball players openly expressing their faith alongside her.
"I think it’s just become more acceptable in society nowadays to be open about your faith," she said. "I think it’s really cool to see more and more people being comfortable with it."
American sports have witnessed a surge in star athletes sharing their Christian beliefs over the past year. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and players Jalen Hurts, Darius Slay, and Saquon Barkley thanked God for their Super Bowl LIX victory. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has also been vocal about his faith throughout his career.
The Dodgers’ Tommy Edman and Blake Treinen expressed their gratitude to God during the team’s World Series run. Notre Dame and Ohio State players spoke openly about their Christian faith during the College Football Playoff National Championship.
"I think it’s a great thing that more athletes are being open about their faith," Bueckers said. "I think it can really inspire others and show them that you can be successful in sports and still have a strong relationship with God."
As Paige Bueckers concludes her collegiate career, she hopes to continue using her platform to encourage others to embrace their faith.
"I just want to be a role model for other people and show them that you can be a Christian and still be successful in whatever you do," she said. "I think it’s important to let people know that it’s okay to be who you are and to believe what you believe."
