Latest news with #AzziFudd
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn's Geno Auriemma Makes Azzi Fudd Statement on Monday
UConn's Geno Auriemma Makes Azzi Fudd Statement on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Monday, UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma spoke to the press about how his team is doing during the offseason and summer training. Advertisement According to Auriemma, the team took a break during April and May after the season was over, but they have been back in summer training since June 1. Auriemma had especially high praise for 22-year-old athlete Azzi Fudd during recent offseason workouts these past two weeks, highlighting a level of intensity and engagement he says he's never seen from her before. Speaking to reporters, Auriemma remarked, 'I've never seen Azzi [Fudd] this aggressive, this engaged, or wanting to do a lot. That's probably stood out more than anything.' Fudd, who has dealt with injuries in past seasons, seems determined to make her mark heading into the upcoming year. Known for her elite shooting and basketball IQ, her renewed focus could be a game-changer for a Huskies squad hungry for a national title. Advertisement The guard declined the 2025 WNBA draft to return for another season, aiming to lead the Huskies to back-to-back championships. Meanwhile, her previous teammate Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 pick during the 2025 WNBA draft and was drafted by the Dallas Wings. UConn Huskies guard Azzi FuddDavid Butler II-Imagn Images UConn closed the 2024‑25 season with a dominant 37‑3 record, going undefeated (18‑0) in Big East play and winning their 12th NCAA title, which was their first since 2016. Fudd, who returned from an ACL injury, averaged 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 47.4% overall and 43.6% from three. Related: Former UConn Star Suffers Unfortunate Setback Before WNBA Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Azzi Fudd's Parents Point Out the Difference Between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
Azzi Fudd's Parents Point Out the Difference Between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese have become rivals on the court, fueled by matchups that date back to the NCAA Tournament and have carried over into the WNBA. Advertisement In college, when Clark's Iowa faced Reese's LSU in the 2023 national title game, Reese hit Clark with the infamous "You Can't See Me" hand gesture after LSU secured the win. Fans of both players quickly took sides, and since then, they have butted heads online. The rivalry reignited during their first matchup of this WNBA season, when Clark was assessed a flagrant one foul for sending Reese to the ground. Naturally, the attention around their growing rivalry hasn't gone unnoticed by those involved in the women's game. The parents of UConn star Azzi Fudd, a projected top-three overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, have been closely watching the league their daughter is set to join. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul from Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK Tim Fudd and Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd appeared on Julian Brown's "NOVA Legends Podcast" and said the key difference between the two players is how they've been treated entering the league. Clark has garnered all the attention, while Reese, like the rest of the WNBA's stars, hasn't received as much. Advertisement "I also think the way that the league handled Caitlin coming in, right?" Katie Smrcka-Duffy Fudd said. "You've got great players in the league, and then all of a sudden, amazingly, there was only Caitlin. And I think this year they've done a better job at that, of showcasing, and like there's a whole WNBA commercial about A'ja Wilson, which that's what it should be. It shouldn't just be about Caitlin. Not saying that Caitlin not a thing to be had, right? Like she should be marketed and promoted, but it shouldn't just be her. And so I think with that, then you bring some resentment from players and also from fans, right? Like, yo, my favorite player, you're not showing them. And you know, and so you've got fans then who are in that game of criticizing how they're running things because all you're seeing is Caitlin." Tim Fudd also touched on the black versus white narrative. "It's a little frustrating, but I get the whole facade about it because it was such drama and it was scintillating to watch Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese, Iowa versus LSU in the national championship game a few years ago, and it was captivating," he said. "And it captured people's attention, and you had to choose a side. Whether you were black or white, you had to choose a side, and it disrupted some friendships. People got blocked, they got deleted, you know, but I think it is... I would love to see it move on." Advertisement Related: Angel Reese Responds After Sky Teammate Defends Her From Unnecessary Hate Related: Price Tag of Caitlin Clark's Luxury Watch Before Angel Reese Game Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn Turns Heads with Big Announcement on Thursday
UConn Turns Heads with Big Announcement on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The UConn Huskies, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, have been widely considered one of the best women's college basketball teams in the nation over the past several years. Advertisement Auriemma recently led UConn to the national title with the help of college basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. After the season, UConn lost its leading scorer and one of the best guards in the country in Bueckers, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft. While Fudd will seemingly take over as the team's leader, UConn added one of the best transfers in the college basketball scene during the offseason. Former USC Trojan Kayleigh Heckel, a highly touted recruit, is headed to play for the Huskies next season. Before then, UConn announced that Heckel will be participating in the USA Basketball Women's U19 National Team trials. Advertisement "Kayleigh Heckel will participate in the 2025 USA Basketball Women's U19 National Team trials," posted the official social media account of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team. Heckel will be heading to Colorado Springs, set to begin team trials on June 18. Upon the release of the announcement, some fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts on the achievement by Kayleigh Heckel. "YAYY GOODLUCK K9," said one fan. "LFG! Good luck, K9," said another fan. "Let's go," mentioned one fan. "Best of luck k9," commented one fan. "Let's gooooooo," said one fan. "Good luck kayleigh!!" said another fan. UConn Huskies head coach Geno Lee-Imagn Images During her freshman season with the USC Trojans, Kayleigh Heckel posted 6.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, starting seven of 34 games in her introductory college basketball season. Advertisement Related: Mike Krzyzewski Names Best Player in Duke Basketball History Without Hesitation Related: Big UConn Announcement Turns Heads on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UConn Star Makes Special Appearance for Paige Bueckers' Wings Game
After losing their first two games of this season, the Dallas Wings headed north to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in last month's WNBA draft, struggled in her season debut, but on Monday, she had 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and eight assists versus the Seattle Storm. Advertisement She struggled early in Wednesday's game, but she did have some support, as Azzi Fudd, her former teammate at UConn, was in the stands. The two teamed up this past season to lead the UConn Huskies to the women's NCAA championship. Fudd averaged 13.6 points a game while shooting 47.4% from the field, 43.6% from 3-point range and 91.7% from the free throw line during the 2024-25 campaign for the Huskies. She was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player and scored 24 points on 9-of-17 overall shooting in the championship game versus South Carolina. Instead of making herself eligible for the WNBA draft after her fourth season at UConn, she decided to remain put for one more season. Connecticut Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (35) and Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrate after the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Barclays Boland-Imagn Images Bueckers put up 19.9 points on 53.4% overall shooting and 41.9% from 3-point land, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game last season for UConn. She is a very adept and efficient three-level scorer, and her offensive game has been compared to that of Diana Taurasi, who won three WNBA titles and three NCAA titles at UConn. Advertisement After full-time halftime of Wednesday's game, the Lynx defeated the Wings 85-81. With 12 points, Bueckers had 10 assists and three steals. Related: WNBA Rookie Paige Bueckers Reveals Truth on Goal With Dallas Wings
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn's Azzi Fudd Makes Major Personal Announcement on Friday
The UConn Huskies women's basketball team just climbed atop the women's college basketball world, winning the national championship. While the spotlight shined bright on Paige Bueckers throughout her last season at UConn, teammate Azzi Fudd has also established herself as one of the best players in women's college basketball. Advertisement Fudd helped lead the Huskies to an 82-59 victory over Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks in the national title game. The UConn guard posted 24 points, five rebounds and one assist in the title clincher. Now, in the offseason, Fudd has a chance to showcase those skills in youth camp. On Friday, Fudd announced that she will be hosting her "Hooping for a Cure" camp in July. "Hi everyone!" Fudd posted on X. "Many of you know I host my Hooping for a Cure camp each summer, and I'm so excited to share it's back July 26–27 in DC!" This past season with the UConn Huskies, Fudd posted 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Advertisement After committing to UConn as one of the most highly touted prospects, Fudd has averaged 13.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game during her four-year career with the Huskies. UConn basketball players Paige Bueckers (left) and Azzi Fudd, who helped lead the Huskies to the 2025 national Rausenberger-Imagn Images Fudd played alongside Bueckers for the past several seasons. Bueckers was recently selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and will now look to lead the Dallas Wings at the professional level. Fudd decided not to enter the 2025 draft and is returning to UConn for a fifth season. Related: Dawn Staley Announces Exciting Personal News on Thursday Related: Paige Bueckers' Gesture Toward UConn Teammate After Alarming Incident
