As with every thrilling March Madness season, 67 teams head home with lingering thoughts of what could have been—a missed shot, a bad pass, a costly turnover. Only one team walks away victorious, and this year, it’s the UConn Huskies basking in the championship glow after toppling Dawn Staley and her powerhouse South Carolina Gamecocks. But as Paige Bueckers and her teammates revel in their moment, not everyone is cheering for them. Jealousy? Maybe. Bitterness? Possibly.
The spotlight has firmly settled on Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, the dynamic guard duo who led UConn to a stunning victory over South Carolina on April 6, clinching the 2025 NCAA National Championship. From laughing it up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to early-morning chats on Good Morning America, the Huskies stars are everywhere—and they’re loving it.
And why not? After enduring years of injuries and setbacks, this championship celebration feels well-earned.
Still, not all reactions have been positive. While most fans understand that this is UConn’s moment to shine, one South Carolina supporter wasn’t thrilled with the attention Bueckers was receiving.
“Although I love Paige and I’m very happy for her success. I do want to point out this crazy national champ ‘world tour’ she’s going on, while last year not a single one of our SC girls got this treatment after going undefeated. Very interesting,” a user posted on X.
The comment ignited a flurry of responses, particularly from UConn supporters who flipped the criticism around—aiming it directly at Dawn Staley.
“It’s because Dawn gets the attention and deals the girls should be getting. She is the star of SC while schools like UConn set their athletes up to get the attention they deserve. Athletes actually benefit from their work instead of the coach,” one fan argued.
Another echoed that sentiment:
“Because their coach took their shine.”
This critique isn’t new. Dawn Staley has become the face of South Carolina basketball, arguably more prominent than any of her players. With three national titles in eight years, her resume is undeniable. Yet despite producing stars like A’ja Wilson, Aaliyah Boston, and Kamilla Cardoso, the program’s identity remains deeply tied to its head coach.
And the backlash kept building.
“Because Dawn went on tour herself,” one fan pointed out, referencing her post-title appearances.
“Blame Dawn for not letting anyone be bigger than the team. Dawn was on a world tour herself after the title,” added another.
They weren’t wrong. After beating Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the 2024 championship, Staley became a fixture on the national stage. From the Paris Olympics to rubbing shoulders with Barack Obama and Tom Brady, to showing up at high-profile events like a Gucci fashion show in Milan and the New York Stock Exchange, she was everywhere.
Another user summed it up succinctly:
“Because they weren’t Paige Bueckers.”
And that’s the core of it. Paige Bueckers is a rare talent. Freshman of the Year, National Player of the Year, and now a national champion—she’s had a rollercoaster journey full of injuries and comebacks, but she’s finally had her moment.
And let’s not forget: this isn’t her first “world tour.” Even during the preseason, Bueckers was making headlines—sporting fire fits at the U.S. Open, sitting courtside at WNBA games, and showing support for her fellow UConn alum.
Some critics may not like it, but Bueckers had the perfect response:
“I had a pretty good summer,” she said with a grin. “I enjoyed it. It was like my first healthy offseason where I wasn’t in a place rehabbing, staying at school getting stronger, so I took advantage of it. Everybody saw the ‘World Tour,’ they didn’t see the ‘Work Tour,’ which is fine.”
And honestly, if anyone’s earned the right to bask in the moment—it’s Paige Bueckers.
