Even though many thought she was heading to the pros alongside Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, as many other players, such as Lauren Betts, decided to stay in college for one more season.
On the back of a national championship run, the senior guard is back with the UConn Huskies to try to win back-to-back titles. Fudd is expected to step up and emerge as one of the team’s leaders, but not everybody is convinced he’s ready to take that job.
NCAA analyst Mark Zanetto dismissed Fudd as the potential face of the Huskies during a recent episode of “The Hoops Cap Pod,” going with sophomore Sarah Strong as his candidate to lead the squad.
Analyst says Azzi Fudd won’t be UConn’s leader
“For me, the sort of visual media marketing face of the team is Azzi Fudd,” Baker said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean I think Fudd is the better player, though she’s a tremendously talented player. I think Sarah Strong’s upside, combined with Azzi’s injury history, makes me think that Strong is the player that’s going to maybe accomplish more by the time she finishes at UConn and could perhaps have a stronger resume than Azzi Fudd.”
Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies
Azzi Fudd went from playing 17 games in 2022-23 and 2023-24 to playing 34 in the 2024-25 campaign. She averaged 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
With Bueckers out of the picture, Geno Auriemma’s team will need a new face, and it seems like this is a good problem for the veteran coach. Fudd and Strong are two incredible players, but it seems as though the forward has a higher ceiling than the guard.
