Q&A: Azzi Fudd dishes on Paige Bueckers, UConn life, and more
The Huskies star is entering her fifth season with head coach Geno Auriemma and the program. Under Auriemma's guidance, Fudd has numerous accolades to her name, including making the 2022 Big East All-Freshman Team and the 2025 First-team All-Big East team. Fudd also had a fantastic NCAA Tournament run with UConn this year as the program took home its 12th championship under Auriemma. During the tournament, she also earned Most Outstanding Player honors.
As she prepares for the next phase in her hoops career, Fudd connected with Instagram and its Close Friends Only podcast to dive into her connection with Paige Bueckers, basketball, how she uses the app to stay connected to friends and more. Fudd told For the Win that she thought the whole experience would be fun and cool, and there was another thing that enticed her.
"To do it with Paige [Bueckers] is another perk," she said. (We agree, Azzi Fudd. We agree.)
For The Win chatted with Fudd about life at UConn, her favorite WNBA players, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (and, of course, Bueckers), plus what she really thinks about her famous "People's Princess" nickname.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Why are Napheesa Collier and Paige Bueckers your favorite WNBA players? Are there any parts of their games that you would add to yours?
Napheesa [Collier's] my favorite. I just think she is such a talented and skilled player and watching her play, it's just flawless. I would definitely take her footwork. She makes it look so easy, and I feel like no matter what ― she's one of those unguardable players because she always has a counter to what the defense is doing. There's nothing you can do to kind of stop her, which I love. ... You can tell she's a boss, and I love it. But she's also very chill throughout the game.
And Paige [Bueckers], I love watching her play. I think she brings so much to the game, on both ends of the floor, and I love her energy and her passion that she plays with. You can tell how much she loves the game, but I definitely wouldn't take anything from a game because I'm better than her. [laughs] I would take her passing. She's a great passer.
Do you feel any pressure now as the leader of UConn women's basketball?
No, I don't feel any pressure. I'm excited. I think it's definitely gonna be a challenge for me because it's kind of outside of my comfort zone to use my voice as much. That's something I don't really do, but something that I know I need to work on. So, I love a challenge, and you know everyone's challenging me. So I gotta step up and do it. So I'm excited for that.
Is there any advice that Geno Auriemma gave you about taking over?
I think, you know, what the coaches have just been saying is, "You've been here the longest. You know what you're doing. You know what you're talking about. So trust that."
What past UConn legends have shared wisdom with you?
Sue [Bird] always has a bunch of wisdom, and I texted her about talking to her just to pick her brain, ask some questions, because when you think about leaders, I mean, UConn has created so many incredible basketball players. But I feel like when you think of one of the best generals, you think of her. So just picking her brain. I wanna pick her brain and ask her things and just how it was for her and how she's been able to be this incredible leader.
We heard you like cooking videos. What's your best dish you would put up against anybody?
My teammates make fun of me for everything I make because I'm healthy, and so they think everything is gross. Also, I only cook for myself. You know, when you cook for yourself, it's what you wanna eat and whatever.
I feel like I love making breakfast. ... Or last year I made a bunch of salmon bowls, so with like quinoa, some sort of green, a grain, salmon and like other veggies on top. I'm also probably the biggest cottage cheese fan you'll ever meet. So I always put cottage cheese in whenever I'm eating, which is a hot take, but I'll stand by it any day of the week. But I do make a good salmon bowl. ...I feel like stir fry is another go-to.
How do you feel about your "People's Princess" nickname?
I mean I feel like when someone gives you a nickname, the odds it being a good nickname like this are very low like. I think this is a great nickname. I feel like there could be some really bad ones people came up with. So I'm, I'm happy that it was this.
Will you continue using it this season?
I have no idea. I don't talk about myself, I don't say like, "Oh,. I'm Azzi. You can call me the "people's princess." I don't say that. So [if] people continue to call me that, I won't be upset. But if people stop, then that's fine.
Who is someone that you admire in women's college basketball that you feel like deserves more recognition?
I'm gonna go with Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold.
I admire them a lot, and I feel like they could never have enough recognition for what they do and what they bring on and off the court for our team ― just the energy, the intensity and just the constant work ethic they have. I feel like they're two staples and a big part of the core of our team.
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