“Oh my God, Paige!” Paige Bueckers is in what could be her final year at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, and she’s determined to make it memorable by creating lasting experiences with her teammates. While her championship goals remain uncertain, she recently achieved a historic milestone with Nike, becoming a significant figure in the UConn locker room—like “the Santa Claus of the UConn locker room,” delivering an early Christmas surprise.
The UConn #5 guard has become the first name, image, and likeness (NIL) athlete to design and launch a player edition sneaker, with the Nike brand set to debut Bueckers’ Nike G.T. Hustle 3 this coming Saturday. This announcement was monumental for fans, but it carried even more significance for her teammates.
UConn shared a touching moment on social media, showing Bueckers excitedly opening the locker room door and announcing, “Nike and the team have a gift! It’s for everybody.”
When Bueckers revealed the news, her teammates, including KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd, erupted with joy. One teammate exclaimed, “Oh my God, Paige!” The locker room buzzed with excitement as each player found their personalized gift. Inside a bucket labeled with Bueckers’ name and featuring her nickname “Bucket,” they discovered a hoodie, a tee, a pair of headphones, a basketball, and of course, the sparkling Nike shoes—each item emblazoned with the exclusive Bueckers edition imprint. This celebration was made possible by Bueckers reaching her historic milestone with Nike.
Inside a bucket marked with Bueckers’ name innovatively highlighting her beloved nickname “Bucket,” they found a hoodie, a tee, a pair of headphones, a basketball, and, of course, the glittering Nike shoes—each piece carrying the exclusive Bueckers edition imprint. Well, none of this would have been possible without Bueckers achieving that historic milestone with Nike.
Paige Bueckers makes history with Nike
The senior guard projected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft this April, is making history. She will be the first collegiate athlete to design and release her own shoe through a NIL deal with Nike. The player edition, called the Nike G.T. Hustle 3, will hit the shelves on Saturday, December 7. Bueckers will proudly wear the shoe throughout her senior season at UConn.
For Bueckers, wearing her own signature shoe is an incredibly motivating experience. “I grew up wearing Nikes—all the signature shoes—so it’s surreal to have this Player Edition model. I just want to show out in it,” she stated. The Nike G.T. Hustle 3 Player Edition is filled with personal touches that reflect Bueckers’ journey.
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