By: ShaCamree Gowdy

If you weren’t familiar with Paige Bueckers before, chances are you know her name now.

The University of Connecticut’s star point guard was named the best college athlete in women’s sports at the 2021 ESPYS Saturday night, and she used her acceptance speech to show white women everywhere how to be an ally.

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“The life that I have now, as a white woman who leads a Black-led sport, is celebrated here. I want to shine a light on Black women, they don’t get the media coverage they deserve,” said Bueckers. “They’ve given so much to this sport and the community and society as a whole, and their value is undeniable.”

"To all the incredible Black women in my life, on my teams. To Breonna Taylor and all the lives lost. To those names I have not yet learned but I hope to share — I stand behind you and I will continue to follow you and follow your lead and fight for you guys.”
— Paige Bueckers pic.twitter.com/uhGiMAYHSu

— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2021

Bueckers noted that at last season’s WWNBA’s post-season awards, 80 percent of the winners were Black, but they received half the amount of coverage — and sports media holds the key to storylines. 

The 19-year-old sophomore guard proceeded to give a special shoutout to a few women in sports and media, including Maria Taylor, Robin Roberts, Maya Moore and Odicci Alexander. 

“To all the incredible Black women in my life, on my teams. To Breonna Taylor and all the lives lost. To those names I have not yet learned but I hope to share — I stand behind you and I will continue to follow you and follow your lead and fight for you guys,” she said.

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Bueckers averaged 21 points and almost five assists per game for the legendary UConn Huskies this season, guiding them to a 28-2 record and a Final Four appearance. She has since become the first freshman to ever win the John Wooden Award for best women’s college basketball player and AP Player of the Year, among other awards. 

Some might say her ESPYS speech came at just the right time, considering it only a week ago when disparaging comments were released by ESPN’s white sideline reporter Rachel Nichols, who accused Maria Taylor of landing a host position of the network’s NBA Finals pregame show because she’s Black and ESPN was “feeling pressure to diversify its broadcasts.”