Postgame Handshake Between Paige Bueckers, Dawn Staley is Turning Heads

 Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies are now your 2025 NCAA women's college basketball national champions.

On Sunday afternoon, Bueckers and No. 1 seed UConn defeated Dawn Staley and No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 in the national championship from Tampa, Florida. 

UConn took control through the first two quarters, securing a 36-26 lead going into the half. The stifling Huskies defense held the Gamecocks to 31.3% shooting in the first 20 minutes. They didn't let up in the second half, outscoring South Carolina 46-33

Bueckers, in her final collegiate game, finished with 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting, six rebounds and three assists. Sarah Strong added 24 points and 15 rebounds.

After the game, Staley and Bueckers met midcourt for a postgame handshake. The two greeted each other with a brief meeting in the background as UConn celebrated the win, exchanging a couple of words before heading their separate ways.

College basketball fans appreciated the meeting between Bueckers and Staley, along with the UConn guard winning her first national championship, taking to social media to leave their thoughts.

"This call was 🤌🏻," one fan said.

"Dawn Staley talked all that (expletive) about Caitlin Clark just for Paige Bueckers to come in there and send her packing," added another.

"Ok Paige Buckets, nice way to end the collegiate career," wrote a third.

"💪💪," commented a fourth.

"a perfect ending," posted a fifth.

"Well well well. Congrats to the huskies," added a sixth.

Bueckers now finishes her college career after five years with UConn. She will likely be heading to the WNBA, where she is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.