UConn star Paige Bueckers says embracing Christianity is becoming more common in women's basketball

After the game, she told Fox News Digital during the postgame press conference how she sees public displays of faith becoming more common in her sport. 

"Yeah, I think people are more outward in their faith and more comfortable talking about it," Bueckers said when asked if she sees embracing Christianity becoming more common in women's basketball and sports as a whole. 

For her, making an effort to put faith on display makes it more comfortable for other players to do the same. 

"I feel like the more you see it the more populized it becomes, and the more comfortable everybody comes with it," Bueckers said. "But yeah, I definitely think it's growing in terms of being outspoken about it." 

A commitment to Christianity has been a prominent staple of Bueckers' basketball journey so far in her career. After she tore her ACL in an August 2022 pickup game, she wasted no time reminding her fans that her faith in God would help her return. 

Six months later in February 2023, Bueckers credited "God's timing" when she gave an update on her recovery. 

When she returned to the court for the 2023-24 season, she led UConn all the way to the Final Four. 

After a 32-point game against Syracuse in the second round of the tournament, she reflected on the prayer that went into her journey back. 

"I prayed so hard a year ago today to be in my shoes where I'm at right now, so just to appreciate it, especially playing here in front of the best fans in the country with the best teammates and the best coaching staff in the world," Bueckers told reporters in the post-game press conference "I give all glory to God, all glory to my coaching staff, and my teammates for instilling that confidence within me just to have fun and play my game."

Now, Bueckers is watching other players in women's basketball show their belief in God along with her, as she gears up for her last March Madness run. 

American sports as a whole has seen a wave of star athletes put their devotion to Christianity on full display for fans over the last year. 

The Chiefs and their quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who were going for their third straight Super Bowl win, also never strayed away from hiding their devotion to faith. 

During the Los Angeles Dodgers run to the 2024 World Series title, players Tommy Edman and Blake Treinen each spoke about their thanks to God along the way. 

And those are just a few examples of star athletes who made sure the nation saw their faith in moments of triumph this past year, as more and more are sharing their connection to Christianity with fans.