For three years, Kendall Brooks has been the one constant behind the UConn women's basketball team. The California native has been the team's student manager since her freshman year-the first one in the gym, the last one to leave, always carrying a clipboard in one hand and a smile that somehow makes every long practice feel lighter. She knows every player's coffee order, every pregame superstition, and every drill Coach Geno Auriemma has ever called. Especially Paige Bueckers'. What started as harmless teasing between the team's star player and their favorite manager slowly became something everyone noticed. The lingering smiles. The inside jokes. The effortless banter. The way Paige always seemed to end up wherever Kendall was. They insist they're just friends, but no one-not their teammates, not the coaches, and certainly not the fans-really believes them anymore. Now, as Paige returns to Storrs for the summer before her senior season, everything feels different. It's her last chance to wear a UConn jersey. Her last preseason. Her last first practice. The pressure of unfinished business hangs over the team, but so does something neither Paige nor Kendall can keep pretending isn't there. Somewhere between early-morning workouts, late-night film sessions, road trips, championship dreams, and quiet moments after everyone else has gone home, their friendship begins to blur into something deeper. The only problem? Dating a team manager is complicated. Falling for your best friend is even harder. As Paige chases one final national championship, she may discover that the greatest thing waiting for her isn't another trophy-it's the girl who has been standing beside the bench all along.

paige bueckers x fem!oc | TW: THIS IS MADE FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. | I am in the editing process! If you see any errors please don't be afraid to point them out. Paige Bueckers is a Junior at UConn, a rising star on the women's basketball team to most, she's the golden girl-an athlete with a dazzling future and a reputation for kindness. But there's one person she can't stand: 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚. Alicia Blake, the girl next door. Literally. The daughter of Paige's mom's best friend Melissa. A cheerleader for the UConn women's basketball team. And once, a long time ago, her best friend. That was before the fight-the kind that leaves scars deeper than words ever could. Since then, they have shared more hate than history, more silence than memories. But something is shifting all over again. Alicia and Paige are feeling things they shouldn't-𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 in their chest whenever each other enter the room, and whenever they see each other across the lawn, a quiet curiosity of how things would be if they talked it out. And with every game, every sideline glance, every unspoken word, every stare across the lawn the tension grows between the two more and more. What happens will test the line between love and hate, and challenge everything they thought they knew about each other. Because sometimes, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝... 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠. total word count: 133,379 total chapter count: 27

After Aaliyah Griffin tore her ACL during a soccer game and was humiliated by her ex Christian she finally decided after Aubrey Griffin (her cousin) managed to convince her she packed her bags and her fresh start to UCONN waited for her. Aaliyah promised herself that after her ex Christian she would never get herself involved with the mix with being with a basketball player again. But once she saw HER it was over. A tall blonde with the most mesmerizing eyes squashed her plans that she shouldn't be involved with a basketball player. Will Aaliyah give in to the tall blondes mesmerizing eyes? Will Aaliyah break her promise to herself? Will Paige break down the walls that Aaliyah had built for herself?