UConn star Paige Bueckers to miss 2022-23 season with torn ACL in left knee

Former National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers will miss the entire 2022-21 season with a torn ACL in her left knee, the UConn women's basketball team announced on Wednesday.

Bueckers sustained the injury during a pick-up game, the team said in a release. She underwent an MRI on Monday. The Huskies star missed a large chunk of her sophomore season last year with a non-contact leg injury. She returned to help lead UConn to the national championship game where they lost to South Carolina.

"We're all devastated for Paige," head coach Geno Auriemma said in a release. "She's worked really hard to get stronger and healthier this offseason, and this is an unfortunate setback. Paige is obviously an amazing basketball player but she's a better person and teammate and it's really unfortunate that this has happened to her. We'll miss her presence on the court, but she'll do everything she can to still lead and help her teammates this season. Our program will support Paige through her healing process to help her come back better and stronger."

Bueckers will undergo surgery on Friday at UConn Health and updates on her timetable to return will be made following.