Azzi Fudd Set to Return in UConn Match Against Fairleigh Dickinson

Azzi Fudd, the University of Connecticut‘s star basketball player, will make her anticipated return to the court on Wednesday night when the Huskies face Fairleigh Dickinson. Fudd, who was regarded as the top recruit in her class and is a potential future WNBA lottery draft pick, missed nearly all of last season due to a torn ACL sustained on November 12, 2023. The announcement of her return was made via a social media post by the program.

Fudd’s basketball journey has been closely followed since high school, where she was named Gatorade National Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2019. This accolade caught the attention of NBA star Stephen Curry, who invited her to his exclusive SC30 Select Camp. «I had never really experienced people’s perspectives opening right in front of their eyes,» Curry remarked on Fudd’s performance at the camp, highlighting her exceptional skills.

Her collegiate career has been hampered by injuries, including a torn ACL and MCL while participating in a USA Basketball U18 event. Despite playing only 42 games since joining UConn in 2021 due to various injuries, she has shown glimpses of her talent, particularly during her freshman season that saw the Huskies reach the 2022 national championship game.

This season, the No. 2-ranked Huskies are considered one of the top teams in the nation, led by Naismith Player of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers. Should Fudd return to her peak form, the team could be a strong contender to dethrone South Carolina and capture their first national championship since 2016.

Fudd’s comeback coincides with a significant milestone for UConn’s head coach, Geno Auriemma, who is on the verge of securing his 1,217th career win. A victory on Wednesday would place Auriemma at the top of the NCAA Division I win charts for both men’s and women’s basketball, surpassing the previous record held by coach Tara VanDerveer.