Finally, Paige Bueckers helped the UConn Huskies put an end to their national championship drought. Now, she’s wreaking havoc with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.
That left a huge void on Geno Auriemma’s team. Bueckers wasn’t only their best scorer and playmaker, she was also their leader, and someone who drew most of the attention on and off the court.
Fortunately enough, the Huskies might have a suitable replacement right there. According to college basketball analyst Mark Zanetto, they want Azzi Fudd to embrace that role.
Geno Auriemma wants Azzi Fudd to be the next Paige Bueckers, says analyst
“She’s aggressive. She’s vocal,” Zanetto said on The Hoop Capital. “Geno (Auriemma) sees her stepping into that ‘alpha role’ that was left behind by the inevitable Paige Bueckers.”
Of course, each player is different, and expecting one to replicate what the other did isn’t only unfair, it’s often not realistic. That being said, Fudd has what it takes to fill those big shoes.
She’s always been quite close to Bueckers, even attending her WNBA Draft ceremony. Now, she will be asked to impersonate her in her final collegiate season before also turning pro.