Royal alum Paige Bueckers won the 2021 ESPY award for best college athlete in women's sports after a historic freshman year at University of Connecticut. Paige averaged 20 points and over five assists, leading the Huskies to the NCAA Final Four before becoming the first freshman ever to win the John Wooden Award as the best women's college basketball player.
Paige used her ESPY acceptance speech to send an important message. After first thanking the black women that paved the way for her, she brought attention to the disproportionate media coverage in women's basketball and beyond. According to Paige, last season in the WNBA, 80% of the post-season awards were won by Black players, but they got half the amount of coverage of the White athletes.
"I think we should use this power together to celebrate Black women," Bueckers said in her speech, "I stand behind you and I will continue to follow you and follow your lead and fight for you guys."
We are incredibly proud of Paige for showing the courage to speak to her convictions and for using her moment to bring others up. You can see the speech below.