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UConn's Paige Bueckers Learns of 2021 AP Player of Year Honor in Emotional Video

Rob Goldberg@TheRobGoldbergFeatured ColumnistMarch 31, 2021

UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates a score against Baylor during the second half of a college basketball game in the Elite Eight round of the women's NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Monday, March 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eric Gay/Associated Press

UConn star Paige Bueckers responded emotionally to being named the 2021 Associated Press women's basketball player of the year: 

AP Top 25 @AP_Top25

BREAKING: @paigebueckers1 of @UConnWBB is the first freshman to be named The Associated Press women's basketball player of the year. Story by @dougfeinberg >>https://t.co/LYb5ucOBBL https://t.co/Jiq59OmSXJ

The guard is the first freshman ever to win the award. 

"It's amazing, surreal for people to think of me that highly and to be in that position as a freshman," Bueckers said, via Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press. "To get this award, I'm extremely humbled and grateful."

Bueckers has been dominant since arriving on campus for the Huskies, averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this season. She has been a go-to option for a team that is 28-1 and is now two games away from its first national championship since 2016.

The Minnesota native scored a game-high 28 points in the 69-67 win over Baylor that sent Connecticut to the Final Four.