Azzi Fudd is “The People’s Princess”. Geno Auriemma is known for having a stern demeanor around his players. Ask WNBA All-Star Paige Bueckers; she knows it well from her time at Storrs under Ariemma’s UConn Huskies. However, it seems that even Auriemma has favorites, and that his current favorite is UConn star Azzi Fudd.
In an interview this Tuesday on the “Good Game With Sarah Spain” podcast, Fudd revealed that she’s known as “The People’s Princess” inside the Huskies program and that it all comes down to an inside joke with Paige Bueckers:
“What’s the origin of that nickname?” Spain asked Fudd.
“I think Paige made a comment about how I’m the princess because coach (Geno Auriemma) doesn’t yell at me and somehow that morphed into people calling me ‘The People’s Princess,’ “ Fudd laughed. “Yeah, I’m not really sure. I know I’m not mad about it though.”
Fudd won the national championship in 2025, and she was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She also earned First Team All-Big East honors for her efforts during the 2024-25 campaign. She played for four seasons alongside her girlfriend Paige Bueckers, who was also a key member of the UConn 2025 NCAA tournament-winning team.
Azzi Fudd throws the first pitch at a Washington Nationals MLB game
On Monday, Azzi Fudd threw the first pitch at the Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park. Fudd grew up in Washington, D.C., and was born in nearby Arlington, Virginia. About being honored in this manner, Fudd told MLB:
“This is definitely an honor, and I definitely feel special,” Fudd said. “Hearing that this was going to happen was super cool. But being here now, knowing that this is real — [the Nationals] just gave me this personalized Nats jersey with my name and number on the back … I’m so excited and I’m so grateful.”
james wood and azzi fudd. DMV DARLINGS + friends since high school.
BUHLEAVE ITTTTT 🥹🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/YhXTkkNTC6
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 21, 2025
She and her family also met and shared with Nationals MLB All-Star James Wood and his family, and had an experience Fudd seemed to enjoy. Fudd played basketball with Wood’s sister, Sydney, and she was the outfielder’s prom date in 2021:
“The whole Wood family is incredible,” Fudd said. “With James, we are always checking on each other, we’re watching each other on TV… So it’s super cool checking on each other, making sure we’re doing well. I played with his sister, our parents have known each other for years, so we have a great connection.”
The game was a 10-8 victory for the Nationals over the Cincinnati Reds. Currently, the Nationals are the worst-performing team in the NL East, being 17 games behind the leaders, the Philadelphia Phillies.
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