New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Fudd is ready to do more than just score
NEW YORK — Azzi Fudd is not your go-to vocal leader.
She’s never going to be the loudest on the court, nor the one with the motivational mid-game speech in the huddle.
Fudd’s a different kind of leader. One that can shoot the ball from any spot on the court and have it float through the air and into the net almost effortlessly. She’s dependable. Consistent. And this season, without star point guard Paige Bueckers, that’s exactly what UConn women’s basketball needs.
“Azzi is never going to call a huddle and say, ‘Alright guys, here’s what we’re gonna do.’ That’s just not gonna happen,”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma said at Tuesday’s Big East Media Day in New York. “But with two guys in her face and she’s got a 28-footer, it’s going in. So, I like that kind of leader.”
Fudd begins her sophomore season this fall after being named to the All-Big East Freshman Team last spring. Without Bueckers (who is out this season recovering from an offseason ACL injury), Fudd is UConn’s top returning scorer after averaging 12.1 points per game and team-highs in 3-point field-goal percentage (43.0) and free-throw percentage (91.2).
After battling a foot injury for the majority of last season (which sidelined her for 11 games), Fudd says she’s a different player now than who she was this time last season.
“I think it starts with my foot, but then also this summer getting my foot healthy, that definitely helped with my confidence and the mental side, and then physically, I’m moving a lot better so I feel confident doing more and not just being a one-dimensional shooter, like I can do more now,” she said.
This season, “doing more” for Fudd will likely feature a new role change — one that sees her bringing up the ball, facilitating plays and passing more than just shooting.
While junior Nika Mühl will likely fill in for Bueckers at point guard, Auriemma said they’ve