STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers suffered a sprained left knee Sunday against Villanova, coach Geno Auriemma told reporters Tuesday, adding that the team hopes to have her back on the court in a week.

Bueckers — the 2021 National Player of the Year and projected No. 1 pick in April’s WNBA draft — was injured late in the third quarter of UConn’s 83-52 win over the Wildcats when she dived for a loose ball and a Villanova player collided with her her. She did not return to the game but ended the competition leaving her knee and ankle on the bench.

Auriemma said Tuesday that nothing was torn and an MRI was not necessary. He added that her ankle, which was also injured in the play, was sore but “fine.”

The diagnosis was relatively welcome news in Storrs, where the Huskies have suffered a number of lengthy or season-ending injuries in recent years. Bueckers previously missed the entire 2022–23 season due to a torn ACL and most of the 2021–22 season due to a fractured tibial plateau and a torn meniscus, all also located in his left knee.

But she played in all 38 of UConn’s games last season and helped lead the program to its 15th Final Four in 16 years.

“Of course, you can imagine that I think she’s more upset than anything about having to miss any time at all,” Auriemma said. “I think what happens to a lot of athletes when they’ve been through something in the past is the fear, ‘Am I going to have to go through something again?’ That’s the immediate first reaction… (but now) she’s in great spirits.”

Auriemma added that the exact timeline for Bueckers’ return depends on how her body responds to rehab and how she feels mentally, but said, “I think there will be a day – sooner rather than later – when she goes.”, ‘I play’ and that’s all.”

Bueckers leads the Huskies in scoring (19.9 points per game) and averages 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game. She is just 18 points away from 2,000 points in her career and is on pace to reach that threshold faster than any other player in UConn history.

UConn hosts Xavier on Wednesday and plays at Georgetown on Saturday.