Azzi Fudd recently opened up about her relationship with Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood. On an episode of Fudd Around and Start A Podcast, Fudd recalled growing up with Wood and the family relationship they share.
The two went to high school together at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. Initially, Wood also played basketball alongside baseball, but after committing to Mississippi State, he started focusing on baseball only. James is now signed to the Washington Nationals for a contract worth $764,600 for one year.
“James Wood is now a professional baseball player, which is crazy to say,” Fudd said. “I’m super proud of him. We kind of grew up together. Our dads played together, I think in some men’s league basketball.”
Fudd played basketball with Wood’s sister in high school. But after spending the initial years of their lives around each other, Wood transferred to IMG in Florida.
“He ended up transferring at the end to go to IMG, but we ended up going to prom together. He flew back up. I had no one to go with, he had no one to go with, so we went together. We had some cute prom pics.”
“I’m holding a basketball in front of the Lincoln Memorial and he’s holding a baseball glove,” Fudd described their prom pictures. That definitely aged well for the two of us. I’m super proud of him.”
Fudd recently reconnected with Wood during the Washington Nationals’ first pitch honor.
This has been a big year for Fudd. She became an NCAA Champion and won the MOP award for the 2025 season as well. Fudd also signed a NIL deal with Unrivaled. Now in her fifth year with UConn, she has greater responsibilities on her shoulders.
Azzi Fudd doesn’t want to follow a blueprint
UConn is one of the best teams in the country. But the talent that has left them this year must’ve made a deep impact on the team. Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl were not only the best players on the team, but they were also leaders who were very effective.
Now, UConn is in Fudd’s hands. The 22-year-old believes that she is not only ready for the challenge, but she is also going to carve her own path while leading UConn to glory.
“I’m not gonna be like how Paige was a leader, how Nika was as a leader,” Fudd said during an interview with CT Insider. “I’m not gonna be super loud. I don’t think that’s in me to be like that.”
Fudd definitely has some big shoes to fill. At the same time, she has been in the UConn environment for long enough not to let the change be a problem for her.
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