Paige Bueckers, the talented UConn basketball standout and projected top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, has responded to the recent controversy surrounding AI-altered explicit photos of herself and fellow player Caitlin Clark that went viral online.
The incident, which occurred on April 21, 2024, sparked outrage among fans and the basketball community for the non-consensual sexualization of these young female athletes. The explicit images were posted on Bueckers’ subreddit, leading to its suspension by Reddit for violating rules against non-consensual intimate media.
Bueckers took to Twitter to address the situation, expressing her resilience and gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received. “The devil works hard but God and the people around me work WAY harder. The outpouring of love and support from the WBB community is unreal. Love y’all. Support women in sport ALWAYS,” she wrote.
The devil works hard but God and the people around me work WAY harder. The outpouring of love and support from the WBB community is unreal. Love yall. Support women in sport ALWAYS🫶🏼
— Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) April 23, 2024The post garnered widespread support from fellow players and fans, who rallied behind Bueckers and condemned the violation of her privacy. Angel Reese, a star player from LSU, tweeted “Protect young women in sports!!!” and shared a post explicitly discussing Bueckers’ situation.
Courtney Tate, a sideline reporter for HBCU Go, expressed her appreciation for those who flooded social media with highlights of Bueckers and Clark, overshadowing the explicit content. “To everyone who flooded the Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers search with their highlights this morning, thank you. To the few weirdos in this world, y’all are sick,” she wrote on Twitter.
While Caitlin Clark has yet to publicly address the incident, the outpouring of support for Bueckers highlights the growing awareness and intolerance for the exploitation and objectification of female athletes.
The controversy serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by women in sports, even as they continue to break barriers and inspire younger generations. Bueckers’ resilient response and the rallying support from fans and fellow players underscore the importance of fostering a safe and respectful environment for these talented athletes to thrive and continue paving the way for future generations.