UConn Star Paige Bueckers Is Waking Up at 5 a.m. During March Madness to Support Her Muslim Teammate
Joe Buglewicz/Getty
Paige Bueckers and Jana El Alfy before the championship game of the Big East Women's Basketball Tournament on March 10, 2025Paige Bueckers is a terrific teammate, on and off the court.
The predicted first overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft, 23-year-old Bueckers has been waking up before sunrise during the March Madness tournament to support her roommate and UConn teammate Jana El Alfy in observation of Ramadan.
In an interview with CT Insider, El Alfy, 19, revealed that Bueckers has been joining her for her early morning meals, usually around 5 a.m.
"She makes really good scrambled eggs," the Huskies center said of Bueckers, noting that their favorite meal has been avocado toast with eggs.
El Alfy, a native of Cairo, Egypt, told the outlet that Bueckers brought "two big grocery bags" of food home on the second day of Ramadan, which began on Feb. 28 and runs through March 29, and offered her support through March Madness.
Joe Buglewicz/Getty
Jana El Alfy #8 and Paige Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies take the court on March 22, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut"I'm her roommate, so just to be able to be there to support her, let her know we're here for her through everything, and we know what she's going through is tough to do, to be able to do Ramadan, fast and play basketball at such a high level right now," Bueckers told CT Insider.
"So just anytime you can support somebody, especially when they're going through something. It's a lot better when you’re going through something with somebody."
The UConn star said she and her teammate have had "some pretty good meals together" since Ramadan began, but admitted, "Sometimes I’m like, ‘Bruh, I can’t eat right now, I’m going back to sleep.’ "
Elsa/Getty
Paige Bueckers in the fourth quarter against the Baylor Lady Bears during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on March 29, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.El Alfy spoke about her experience playing in the tournament while observing the month-long holiday, telling CT Insider, "It’s definitely tough. It's an important month for me."
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The Huskies center said her teammates and Huskies staff have "really helped" her to manage the balance. "I feel like I'm blessed and grateful to be surrounded with this group. It's a really, really special group, and they’re always asking questions, and they’re always like, ‘Oh, how are you feeling?’ or ‘I can’t imagine doing that,'" said El Alfy. "I think I wouldn't have done it or made it this far if it wasn't for my teammates."
Bueckers, El Alfy and the Huskies will take on 10-seed South Dakota State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 24.
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