Paige Bueckers close to tears over UConn teammate’s long-awaited return

Paige Bueckers recalled her feelings upon seeing her teammate Caroline Ducharme set on the court once again after a plethora of injuries in recent years had limited her availability

Paige Bueckers tried her best to contain the emotions that came when asked for her feelings after seeing teammate Caroline Ducharme’s return to the court.

Bueckers was a force Saturday night against Butler, posting a double-double with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and nailing 2 of 5 from 3-point land. For good measure, Bueckers added 10 assists, three steals, and two rebounds in the 39-point win.

And while the game showed just how effective the star guard could be on any given night, there was a moment that meant more to hear than what she did during the game: Ducharme’s return to the hardwood. Speaking after the game, Bueckers explained what went through her mind when she saw her teammate check into the game.

“It’s crazy,” Bueckers said of seeing Ducharme step on the court against Butler. “It brings you to tears because of everything she’s been through and everything she’s overcame and how much work she’s put into it. She’s dedicated her entire life to getting back doing what she loves.

“So just to have that moment, no matter how long or what the stakes are, just to see her back out there doing what she loves, knowing she’s getting rewarded for a lot of hard work and a lot of faith and just a tough journey. But it’s made her stronger and she’s never wavered in who she is.

“She’s a great person, a great teammate. So you just get really excited for her in those moments.” Ducharme last played for UConn in November 2024, having played a total of 27 games in the last two seasons because of numerous neck and head injuries.

Paige Bueckers couldn’t contain her excitement upon seeing Caroline Ducharme’s return to the court after various injuries ( 
Image:
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Ducharme was hit in the head throughout her freshman year and missed the start of her sophomore year with neck stiffness. During practice, she suffered a concussion missing 13 games and during a trip to the Cayman Islands last year, she suffered from neck spasms due to turbulence during the flight.

As such, the 22-year-old has not been on the court as she constantly dealt with her unfortunate injuries and the decision to sit out the rest of the 2023-24 season was one she believed would be beneficial to her in the long run. I’m confident that this is the best decision so I can continue to play the sport I love at UConn and professionally,” she said in a statement at the time.

“As hard as it is to be away from the court until the 2024-25 season, I’m always supporting my team and I can’t wait to rejoin them on the court next season.” Though Ducharme only played two minutes, her play meant more than what the box score shows.

“Well, I know it’s been a long time coming for her,” Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma said after the game. “She’s been through a lot, finally got cleared, and was hoping that she’d get an opportunity. So I’m glad that we were able to give her that and build on it little by little and see where that takes us. But I know the players are, too. We’re pretty excited. She’s worked awfully hard to get to this point.”