Azzi Fudd is set to play in her second championship game, but her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. Here’s a look at her injury history.
UConn, the most dominant program in women’s college basketball, is making its 12th appearance in the national championship game since 1995. Key to the Huskies’ success this season have been the efforts of Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.
Fudd, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2021, arrived at UConn with plenty of hype. But injuries delayed her breakout, and her college career has been marked by repeated setbacks.
Fudd’s Injury History and Setbacks
ESPN once called Fudd “the best high school talent the game has seen in decades.” She became the first sophomore ever to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year award. But her injury troubles began before she even arrived in Storrs.
In 2019, Fudd tore her ACL and MCL during the USA Basketball 3-on-3 U18 nationals. Despite months of rehab, swelling in her knee limited her return to full activity.
As a freshman, Fudd missed 11 games due to a foot injury. Her sophomore season was disrupted by a knee injury suffered against Notre Dame, causing her to miss 22 games. She returned five weeks later, only to aggravate the same injury.
Then, in November 2023, Fudd tore her ACL and medial meniscus in her right knee during practice, sidelining her for nearly the entire 2023–24 season. But this year, she’s stayed relatively healthy, playing a career-high 32 games and averaging 13.1 points per contest.
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Fudd’s Career Stats.
- Freshman year: 25 games, 12.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game
- Sophomore year: 15 games, 15.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists
- Junior year: 2 games, 11.0 points
- Senior year: 32 games, 13.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 44.1% from 3-point range
Fudd announced on March 25 that she’ll return to UConn next season despite being eligible for the WNBA Draft.
KEEP READING: Everything Paige Bueckers Said Following UConn’s Final Four Win
She said she made the decision after conversations with head coach Geno Auriemma.
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