Paige Bueckers—aptly nicknamed “Paige Buckets”—is poised to storm March Madness for the last time. She’s the star guard at the University of Connecticut, a Big East school with a basketball legacy that runs deeper than deep. The women’s team has won the national championship 11 times, and the men have won six times (including back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024).

Largely considered the best player in college basketball, Bueckers has been a big fish in a big pond for some time now—but she’s about to drop into the open ocean. Bueckers is expected to go first in the upcoming WNBA draft on April 14; so naturally, she’s doing everything you might expect to keep her head in the game. She’s taking ice baths, she’s studying her tapes—but she’s also getting her hair to that hallmark shade of Paige Bueckers-blonde. With the launch of her new shade of “UConnic Blonde” with Madison Reed—whose founder, Amy Errett, is a fellow Uconn alum—Bueckers gives a nod of gratitude to her Husky roots. “My community means the world to me, because they have supported me every step of the way,” says Bueckers. “Being able to involve them in choosing a name for this product makes this collab even more meaningful.”

The partnership becomes the first-ever hair color created for a woman athlete. And with that, Bueckers is proving an important point: Beauty and athletic performance aren’t mutually exclusive, they’re interlinked as forms of identity and self-expression. “I wanted to create a blonde as cool and iconic as UConn fans, and send a message that confidence doesn’t mean looking a certain way,” says Bueckers. “It means expressing yourself authentically.”

Ahead, read on about Bueckers’ new Madison Reed Colorwonder shade, the meaning behind her hair color, and her game-day hair essentials.

The Sentimental Meaning Behind Her Hair Color

“Blonde hair has kinda been my thing since I was a freshman in high school. My mom highlighted her hair blonde when I was young, and I wanted to look like her. It makes me feel confident and like my best self.

“That’s why UConnic Blonde is so important to me. It’s the first time a beauty brand has created a signature hair color with a woman athlete. My blonde hair color feels really true to my journey here and is something I wanted to share with the world as my first beauty collab.”

Her Game Day Braid

“I personally don’t know how to braid, so I have my friend Kayla do it. I start by making a middle part using a comb and then she does a braid on either side. And then I usually just use a hair wax stick and gel to slick it back and get all the flyaways. To make sure that my ponytail is very slick, I usually straighten it. That’s basically it—it takes about 15-20 minutes. When Kayla was sick a few weeks back I had to wear it in a slicked-back ponytail, which is really the main hairstyle I know how to do myself, so that’s my go-to. With those styles, I’ll use my hairbrush and hair ties; I also need to tame my flyaways with gel and a wax stick, so those hairs don’t try and do their own thing.”

Her Favorite Beauty Indulgences

“When I have the time to touch up my hair color, that’s what I’m doing. Over the summer I had a lot of fun playing with my hair color as an extension of my style. I loved my pink hair and who knows what color I’ll try next, but for now, my signature blonde is back with Colorwonder in UConnic Blonde, and it makes me feel confident.

“Definitely getting enough sleep, too. I go to bed early and sleep in. I’ll also get in some Pilates, sauna, and cold tub to help my body recover. Then I really just chill, get off my feet, and relax.”

Her Game Day Beauty Essentials

“I’d say my essentials are my hair wax stick, hair ties and a brush, contacts, deodorant, and my favorite perfume. Gotta smell good!”

Paige’s Picks

Madison Reed ColorWonder in UConnic Blonde

View on Ulta

TIGI Bed Head Hair Wax Stick

$23

$14 at Amazon

Valentino Donna Born In Roma Eau de Parfum

$170

$129 at Amazon

Goody Ochless Elastic Hair Ties

$6

$6 at Amazon