Latest news with #NCAAChampionship
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
WNBA star Paige Bueckers confirms relationship with 'D1 girlfriend,' Azzi Fudd
On the heels of being named a WNBA All-Star, Dallas Wings rookie guard Paige Bueckers confirmed she is officially off the market after discussing her girlfriend in a recent interview. During an interview with WAG Talk, a popular social media brand highlighting "wives and girlfriends" of professional athletes, Bueckers was asked a series of questions about her "D1 girlfriend." At the end of the line of questioning, she identified her partner as her former UConn Huskies teammate Azzi Fudd. Bueckers and Fudd played together at UConn for four seasons, with the two winning an NCAA Championship this year. The questions asked by WAG Talk ranged from Fudd's basketball career to the text on the UConn guard's phone case, which Bueckers affectionately said reads: "Paige Bueckers' girlfriend". A trio of rookies, consisting of Bueckers and Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen, are slated to play in the WNBA All-Star game on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Indiana Fever's arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis. 'We were worried for a second there' Underneath the WAG Talk interview, TikTok users flooded the comment section, with one of them calling Bueckers' announcement a "hard launch." "ok this is like THE REALL hard launch," the user commented. NaLyssa Smith, a forward for the Las Vegas Aces, commented underneath the interview: "awwwwww my baby's all grown up." Gatorade, which named Fudd its 2018-19 National Player of the Year, also chimed in on the fun in the comment section, writing, "We were worried for a second there," seemingly joking about how long it took Bueckers to answer some of the questions in the video. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Paige Bueckers makes it official with long-rumored girlfriend Azzi Fudd
Paige Bueckers makes it official with long-rumored girlfriend Azzi Fudd (Image Via X) A surprising confession came on Thursday night, July 17, during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All‑Star weekend in Indianapolis. Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers, 23, paused a light‑hearted WAG Talk interview on the orange carpet to answer questions about her 'D1 girlfriend. ' The playful quiz suddenly took a serious turn when Paige Bueckers replied with a name and confirming long‑standing rumors. The crowd buzzed as fans realized this was more than a tease. What started as an entertaining moment turned into a public acknowledgment of a relationship that fans have speculated about for months. Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd confirm their relationship During the interview, the host asked, 'How well do you know your D1 girlfriend?' Paige Bueckers smiled and confidently answered questions about Azzi Fudd and details like her high school, awards, ranking, dad's college team, even what her phone case said. The phone case, a viral moment, read 'Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend.' When the host prompted, 'Girlfriend reveal—it's…?' Paige Bueckers answered simply: 'Azzi Fudd.' This was her moment of confirmation, under bright lights and live cameras. Fans celebrated online. On social platforms, one wrote, 'GIRLFRIEND, we've come a long way,' while another added, 'She's cheesing mad hard too, that's her girl fr.'. The Backstory and Clues of Paige Bueckers & Azzi Fudd ralationship Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd were first teammates at UConn, where they helped win the 2025 NCAA Championship. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo After Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for the Dallas Wings and Azzi Fudd stayed at UConn for a fifth college season, their off‑court bond grew public. In April, Azzi Fudd shared a selfie showing her phone case saying 'Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend,' fueling speculation. In July, they appeared holding hands at a Wings road game, wore matching 'A' and 'P' necklaces, and attended the 2025 ESPYs together. Paige Bueckers posted Azzi Fudd's photo from the ESPY red carpet on her Instagram story with heart‑eyed emojis. Also Read: Paige Bueckers Posts Heartfelt Mid-Season Update As Azzi Fudd Stands By Her Side Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where Florida Ranks After Winning NCAA Championship in Early Top 25 Rankings
Where Florida Ranks After Winning NCAA Championship in Early Top 25 Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2024-25 season was one that Florida Gators basketball fans will never forget. A 36-4 record, an SEC title and the ultimate prize, the third national championship in program history. Advertisement Now, head coach Todd Golden and the Gators are looking for a repeat performance next season, as Florida tries to win back-to-back titles for the second time. However, with the departure of UF's three leading scorers from last year, it will be a tall task for the defending champions. On Tuesday, USA Today released its Too-Early Top 25 for the 2025-26 season, in which Florida is ranked near the top, but may not be where Gators fans expect. Florida Gators players celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Houston Cougars in the national championship game at the Deutsch-Imagn Images The national publication ranked Florida No. 5 in its preseason rankings, landing behind a pair of teams the Gators went through en route to the title. "All-America guard and Final Four MVP Walter Clayton will be hard to replace," USA Today said. "Backcourt mate Elijah Martin and Will Richard are also gone, but the Gators will defend their title with most of their inside players returning." Advertisement Florida's backcourt trio of Clayton, Martin and Richard will be big losses for Florida. Because of this, Golden hit the transfer portal with a big emphasis on the perimeter. He brought in a pair of guards in Boogie Fland from Arkansas and Princeton's Xaivian Lee. Fland scored 13.5 points to go with 5.1 assists and over one steal per game as a freshman in 2024 under John Calipari. Lee, who spent the past three seasons with the Tigers, is coming off an impressive year in which he averaged just under 17 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per contest. Outside of Florida in the top five, USA Today's experts ranked the defending runner-up Houston Cougars No. 1, the Duke Blue Devils second, UConn Huskies No. 3 and Purdue Boilermakers one spot ahead of UF at No. 4. The Gators took down the two-time defending champion Huskies in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament and the Cougars in the national championship game. Advertisement While the expectations for Golden and Florida from around the country are sky-high going into next season, it won't be easy to repeat as national champions. Related: Florida Trending for No. 22 College Basketball Recruit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness expansion to 72 or 76 teams floated; change could come as soon as next season
The committees for men's and women's Division I basketball met this week to discuss possible expansion of the March Madness tournaments, but made no immediate decisions or recommendations. 'The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2026 or 2027 championships," Dan Gavitt, the NCAA senior vice president of basketball, said in a statement Thursday. Advertisement The idea of expanding the tournament picked up steam in the spring when NCAA President Charlie Baker said it could add value and that he'd like to see the issue resolved in the next few months. He said the NCAA has had 'good conversations' with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros., whose deal runs through 2032 at the cost of around $1.1 billion a year. Baker also mentioned increasingly difficult logistics involved with adding teams to what is now known as the 'First Four' — a series of four games played on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week to place four teams into the 64-team bracket. Though there has been no concrete plan for how expansion would work, speculation has centered on bringing more at-large teams, likely from major conferences, into the 64-team bracket. Such a move that would come at the expense of champions of lower-level conferences. Currently, two of the First Four games involve 16 seeds — teams that automatically qualify by winning lower-ranked conferences — while two more involve at-large teams often seeded 11 or 12. For instance, in 2021, UCLA made the Final Four as an 11 seed that also played in the First Four. Advertisement 'I don't accept that that model just continues in the future,' Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said at league meetings in May. He used the example of North Carolina State advancing to the Final Four as an 11 seed in 2023 as how bubble teams from big conferences can make long runs in the tournament. 'You could go ask my colleagues in the (automatic qualifier) conferences what should happen, and I'm certain they want that split to continue for life,' Sankey said. 'But you've got some really, really good teams ... that I think should be moved into the tournament.' Any recommendation for expansion would have to be approved by the NCAA's Division I board, which next meets in August. ___ AP college basketball: and Eddie Pells, The Associated Press
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gilbert Arenas opens up about why Michael Jordan was never his favorite player growing up
(Image Source - Getty Images) Most kids growing up in the '90s worshipped Michael Jordan—but not Gilbert Arenas. Despite being raised in a Bulls-loving home and forced to watch every MJ game, his heart latched onto a different star, Penny Hardaway. One highlight reel, one jersey number change, and Arenas was all in. His story proves that sometimes, your true basketball hero isn't the one with the rings—but the one who made you feel something. How Penny Hardaway's High‑School Highlights Stole Arenas' Fan Heart Gilbert Arenas shares that while his dad insisted he watch all the Chicago Bulls games—complete with the Michael Jordan craze—his genuine love for basketball originated from a different source. After he caught Penny Hardaway's thrilling high school highlights leading up to the 1993 NBA Draft, he was completely hooked. Arenas recalls, 'My first favorite player was Penny Hardaway… I changed my number to 25 in high school' as a nod to his idol. That one gesture laid the groundwork for his lifelong devotion. GILBERT ARENAS EXPOSES HIMSELF AS THE ULTIMATE GLAZER In a world where most were mesmerized by Jordan's six NBA titles, Arenas felt a subtle pull towards Hardaway's Magic—their speed, skill, and style made a stronger impression than Jordan's honors. This passion wasn't just a phase. During high school, Arenas would get into debates with his classmates to champion Hardaway as the better player and purposefully selected #25—the number Penny wore while playing for the Orlando Magic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo It wasn't a lack of understanding about how great Jordan was. Arenas admired him—his father had even filled their house with Bulls memorabilia—but emotions won out over the accolades. 'Michael Jordan was not my favorite player… but my dad forced me to watch Jordan all day'. This tug-of-war between responsibility and enthusiasm uncovers a significant truth: the first fandoms we create aren't always driven by numbers or victories—they're shaped by intuition and individual bonds. Gilbert Arenas took that early motivation and turned it into results: while at Arizona, he snagged First-Team All-Pac‑10 honors in 2001 and capped off his sophomore year by guiding the Wildcats to the NCAA Championship game. He was picked 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2001, and he climbed the ranks to become the NBA Most Improved Player in 2003, eventually becoming a three-time All-Star with Washington. During his career, Arenas embodied Penny's style—quick guard moves, bold scoring, and a game that was all about creativity and confidence. His personal motto? Go with what inspires you, not what conforms to expectations. Also Read: Memphis Grizzlies make a sneaky trade on Sunday that could change their defensive outlook The story of Gilbert Arenas highlights how fandom can be irrational—and that's part of its charm. Even though Michael Jordan was a global superstar, it was the style of Penny Hardaway that caught the eye of a young kid, not the championships. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
