UConn's Bueckers Named To AP First Team All-America Squad

SAN ANTONIO – UConn women’s basketball freshman Paige Bueckers has been named to the 2021 Associated Press First Team All-America team.

The AP made the announcement Wednesday.

Bueckers is the first freshman to be named an AP First Team All-American since Maya Moore in 2008.

This season, the Hopkins, MN, native became the first player to be named Big East Player and Freshman of the Year and the Big East Tournament's most outstanding player.

Bueckers holds the UConn freshman record with 146 assists this season. She leads UConn with 19.7 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game as well as a 47.4 three-point field goal percentage.

A total of 17 Huskies have earned 25 AP First Team All-America honors: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Kara Wolters (1996, 1997), Nykesha Sales (1998), Svetlana Abrosimova (2000), Shea Ralph (2000), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003, 2004), Maya Moore (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Renee Montgomery (2009), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014, 2015, 2016), Moriah Jefferson (2016), Napheesa Collier (2017, 2019), Katie Lou Samuelson (2017, 2018), Megan Walker (2020) and Bueckers (2021).

Juniors Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams were named to the Honorable Mention team.

Bueckers is joined on the first team by Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Dana Evans (Louisville), Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) and NaLyssa Smith (Baylor).

The Huskies (24-1) begin NCAA Tournament against High Point (22-6) Sunday at 8 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN in the Alamodome.