Paige Bueckers hasn't shied away from sharing her religion even on basketball's largest levels.
After UConn's final two NCAA Event victories, Bueckers gave all of the credit score to God and talked about how he helped her succeed and overcome adversity.
“A lot gratitude. I’m a residing testimony. I give all of the glory to God. He works in mysterious methods. Final 12 months I prayed to be again at this stage,” she mentioned ESPN Monday. “He despatched me trials and tribulations, however it was to construct my character. It was to check my religion to see if I used to be a believer. However I nonetheless simply believed. I did all the pieces I may, so God may do all the pieces I couldn't.”
Bueckers mentioned it's a “miracle of God” for UConn to make it to the Remaining 4 with the injury-riddled season the staff has had. The staff has misplaced six gamers to harm over the previous few months.
“With God in your facet, you’ll be able to overcome something, with laborious work in your facet,” she mentioned.
What did Paige Bueckers say about her religion?
Bueckers has been vocal about her religion all through her basketball profession, typically sharing scriptures and thanking God in social media posts. Proverbs 3:5-6 is even a part of her Instagram bio.
In August 2022, Bueckers tore her ACL in a basketball sport, forcing her to overlook the whole season. Shortly after the harm, Bueckers took to Instagram to disclose how her religion in God helps her deal with the harm.
“It's laborious making an attempt to make sense of all of it proper now, however I can't assist however suppose God is utilizing me as an affidavit of how a lot you’ll be able to overcome with Him by your facet,” she wrote. “Some little child who simply tore their ACL or had main surgical procedure would possibly want this story P as a result of it's going to be a hell of a comeback.” There might be good days and there might be unhealthy days, however my absolute love for the sport and God's power will get me again to the place I have to be.”
The 2021 nationwide participant of the 12 months then thanked followers for his or her prayers and mentioned the harm didn't make her doubt her religion in God or her basketball goals.
“God has put a dream in my coronary heart and even when I’ve to undergo a nightmare to meet it, I’ll hold believing,” she mentioned.
Six months after surgical procedure, she shared an replace on her progress, writing: “God's timing isn’t off, hold working.”
Then, two months earlier than returning to basketball, she spoke once more about how the harm strengthened her religion fairly than threatened it.
“A part of me thinks God known as me to do that,” Bueckers advised ESPN. “I really feel like I'm going to have a terrific story to inform on the finish of it.”
Paige Bueckers for Answered Prayers
After scoring 32 factors and punching her ticket to the Candy 16 on March 25, Bueckers revealed in her postgame press convention that God answered her prayers from a 12 months in the past when she was sidelined with an ACL harm.
“A 12 months in the past at this time, I prayed so laborious to be in my sneakers the place I’m now, so simply to understand it, particularly enjoying right here in entrance of one of the best followers within the nation with one of the best teammates and one of the best teaching workers within the nation. world,” she mentioned, primarily based on a video shared by the consumer Highlight HER at X. “I give all of the glory to God, all of the glory to my teaching workers and my teammates for instilling that confidence in me to have enjoyable and play my sport.”
Bueckers and UConn defeated USC on Monday to clinch a spot within the Remaining 4.
On Friday, Bueckers and UConn will proceed their pursuit of their faculty's first NCAA title since 2016 in a Remaining 4 matchup towards Caitlin Clark and Iowa at 7 p.m. MDT.
They're searching for redemption after a Candy 16 loss final season — this system's earliest NCAA Event look since 2005.