UConn star Bueckers undergoes surgery, expected back for preseason

UConn's star guard Paige Bueckers underwent surgery to repair an osteochondral defect on her right ankle on Friday, the program announced, according to ESPN's Mechelle Voepel.

The rising sophomore, who captured a slew of national awards in just her first season of collegiate basketball - including the Naismith and Wooden Awards and being named the AP Player of the Year - is expected to recover in time for preseason workouts in September.

The 5-foot-11 offensive dynamo averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game in 29 appearances as a freshman. Bueckers also connected on 46.4% of her nearly five 3-point attempts per game, placing her in the 99th percentile nationally, according to Her Hoop Stats.

With Bueckers leading the charge, the Huskies advanced to the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, falling to national runner-up Arizona.