Paige Bueckers spotlights Black women in ESPY speech

UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers added to her already long list of awards Saturday night, taking home the ESPY award for Best College Athlete in Women’s Sports.

During her acceptance speech, Bueckers highlighted the disparities Black women often face in sports media coverage.

“With the light that I have now as a white woman who leads a Black-led sport and celebrated here, I want to show a light on Black women,” she said.

👏 @paigebueckers1 pic.twitter.com/vFoSoczHn6

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) July 11, 2021

After the ceremony, Bueckers expanded on the purpose behind her acceptance speech.

“I just want to use my platform to share the light and expand the horizons on who gets the attention,” she said.

Bueckers was the consensus National Player of the Year during her first season at UConn, leading the Huskies to the Final Four, where they fell to Arizona. Last week, Bueckers said her sole focus this year is on winning a championship.