UConn Huskies star guard Azzi Fudd share a common name with former WNBA star Jennifer Azzi, driving intrigue among fans if the two basketball players are related in any way.
Jennifer is a former NCAA Champion who played for Stanford from 1986 to 1990 before being picked fifth overall in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock. She has also won a gold medal at the Olympics with Team USA in the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
Is Azzi Fudd Related to Former WNBA Star Jennifer Azzi?
No, Azzi Fudd is not related to former WNBA star Jennifer Azzi, but her name is inspired by her.
Actually, Fudd’s mother, Katie, was a big fan of Jennifer and admired her career and character. This means the link is purely inspirational, not a blood relation. Katie was a basketball fan and she herself had an impressive career at NC State and Georgetown. Interestingly, she was even drafted into the WNBA, but due to injuries, her professional career never took off. Moreover, Azzi’s father, Tim Fudd, also played basketball at the college level and professionally.
Fudd has also previously worn Jennifer’s No. 8 jersey number at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. She won that tournament.
“My mom told me when I was younger, but it didn’t really resonate with me until I was in middle school,” Fudd said when asked if she was aware of the significance behind her name.
Interestingly, Azzi Fudd and Jennifer Azzi actually met in life back in 2015. The former WNBA star said it’s her honor to have someone like Azzi being named after her.
“When I heard there was a child named after me, not my first name, but my last name, which is pretty unique… that’s a huge honor,” Jennifer said at the time.
Azzi Fudd is currently in the middle of March Madness. She has led the UConn Huskies into the Sweet Sixteen stage of the NCAA Tournament after her 34-point outing helped the program get past Syracuse Orange 98-45. Now they’ll face the North Carolina Tar Heels next.
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