Paige Bueckers on final game: ‘Don’t want to take it for granted’
Paige Bueckers isn’t getting caught up in the moment of having her last collegiate game in the National Championship
TAMPA, Florida — Jana El Alfy had some special visitors here to watch her and the UConn women’s basketball team dominate to reach the national championship game.
El Alfy’s father, mother and uncle traveled more than 6,500 miles to Tampa from Egypt, and it was worth every bit of the 25-hour journey.
“This is the first time I watched Jana live. We are so excited, so proud,” her father Ehab El Alfy told USA TODAY Sports at halftime. “They’ve played aggressive defense, and I hope UConn can win the game, and continue (the season).”
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And win they did. UConn dominated UCLA 85-51, the largest margin of victory in Final Four history, to advance to the NCAA title game for the 13th time in program history. El Alfy was tasked with matching up against UCLA’s star center Lauren Betts and was disruptive all night, finishing with four of the Huskies’ 13 steals to go along with eight rebounds and six points.
“I thought her performance was the tone-setter tonight,” guard Paige Bueckers said. “How aggressive she started and how determined she started.”
Basketball is ingrained in the El Alfy family. Ehab El Alfy is the head coach of the Egyptian women’s national team, where El Alfy first got UConn’s attention with her youth international team play. She led all players in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup with 21.4 points per game, and became the first Egyptian player in UConn history.
El Alfy’s UConn career got off to a rocky start after an injury forced her to redshirt last season. But this year she has been a key contributor in UConn’s frontcourt, just in time for her family to see her start in the Final Four.
“It means absolutely everything to me,” said El Alfy, who became visibly emotional when asked about her family attending. “I’m so glad that they were able to come and watch me. I know they’re happy, just them being here. I just wanted to do my best for them.”
El Alfy grew up begging her father to let her compete against the older players. She said her father was hard on her in practice, and would throw her out at times when they butted heads. But she credits him for instilling her competitive drive.
“I think that’s what made me really competitive,” El Alfy said. “That’s what helped me grow. I’m super thankful. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for him. And then my mom too, there’s always that support system.”
South Carolina vs. UConn time, TV channel, how to watch
- Time, date: 3 p.m. ET | Sunday, April 6
- TV Channel: ABC
- Live Stream: Fubo – Watch Now!
Bo Underwood is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.
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