Diana Taurasi and Paige Bueckers are two of the greatest UConn women's basketball players ever. On Wednesday, Bueckers reacted to Taurasi's retirement from the WNBA, as the former Phoenix Mercury legend recently announced that she will be walking away from the game.
"Crazy," Bueckers said of the news, via UConn on SNY. "You kind of, like, saw it coming in the near future, but it's kind of surreal... As long as I've basically been alive she's always been playing. Just to watch her growing up, playing at UConn, playing in the W, playing in the Olympics, like being the ultimate winner, it's something that I aspire to be."
Buckers has established herself as a star at the college basketball level. As a result, the UConn women's basketball guard is expected to be selected first overall in the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft. Bueckers has already enjoyed a terrific college basketball career, and her WNBA outlook is extremely bright.
Buckers says that she has looked up to Taurasi, who she referred to as a "great role model."
"She's a great role model," Bueckers continued. "Just a great athlete for people to look up to... Obviously one of the greats, so it's crazy that she's not gonna be playing anymore."
What has Bueckers learned from the future Hall of Famer?
"Just always being there. Like I got her number, we talk a lot in the summers, we seen each other quite a bit... She's done it all, seen it all, experienced it all, so just leaning on her for wisdom, asking questions. She's just always been there to support... through the highs and lows, ups and downs of my career here. She's just always been there to support."
As mentioned, Paige Bueckers unquestionably has a bright basketball future. She can certainly learn a lot from Taurasi.
Taurasi is both a three-time NCAA champion and three-time WNBA champion. She became a legend at UConn before establishing a similar legacy with the Mercury at the WNBA level. Bueckers is on a similar track, although the Dallas Wings will likely select her first overall. Buckers may not end up in Phoenix, but she could establish herself as a star in the WNBA with the Wings, assuming Dallas does indeed select her in the draft.
For now, anything can happen. The one thing that is certain is that Taurasi is retiring from the WNBA unless she changes her mind. The future Hall of Famer will be remembered as arguably the greatest player in women's basketball history.