Looks like the dream team is back on the verge of making magic happen! Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, the dynamic duo who were supposed to set the UConn basketball court on fire, are gearing up for what could finally be their long-awaited season together. Their journey hasn’t exactly gone as they planned. Injuries have played the villain, keeping these best friends apart for most of their college games. But now, with Paige already back in action and Azzi Fudd on the mend, the stars are aligning.

The 22-year-old took to Instagram recently with a photo in her UConn jersey, captioning it, “Coming soooooon 😉.” And UConn’s No. 5 jumped into the comments with “You have been so active,” hinting at Fudd’s increased social media presence of late. She also added, “way to go girl!” 

This seems to be a recurring joke among the Huskies with every one of Fudd’s posts swarmed with surprised teammates on her social media activity. But considering this one’s about the guard being on the court soon, though Paige did not let go of the usual reaction, she took to her Instagram stories to reshare the post.

After all, the two have waited to be on the court together. Thrilled at the thought right from the beginning of their journies.

“This is something we’ve talked about since we first met each other. It’s been a project ever since I committed to UConn to get her to come here with me. For her to finally be here, it’s kind of crazy,” Bueckers said at that time.

But fate had other plans. To date, they have only shared the court in 17 scattered games. In their first season together, the 23-year-old’s knee injury in December 2021 kept her out for months. When she returned, Azzi was battling a foot problem. Then, in 2022-23, the 2021 AP Player of the Year tore her ACL and missed the entire season. 

However, Fudd started strong before a knee injury sidelined her too. Last season? Azzi tore her ACL in November, leaving Paige to carry the team solo to the Final Four. Coach Geno Auriemma summed it up perfectly: “I’ve almost forgotten what that could look like or should look like.”

Despite the injuries, we’ve seen the amazing energy they can bring to the court together. Like in 2022, Azzi dropped 19 points in the NCAA Regional Final against NC State, while Paige took over in overtime with 27 to push UConn into the Final Four. 

Now, as they prepare for one last ride, their coach expressed, “It’s one of the great expectations that exists in our program right now.” Even though she is excited, the UConn senior is not rushing back. She is expected to return by December, likely for UConn’s game against Holy Cross, but she will take her time to unleash her potential. 

Seeing the game differently, Azzi Fudd knows her comeback won’t be 100% right away

While the guard is excited to be practicing again, she knows it’ll take time to hit her stride. “That’s another thing I’ve been working on: Being able to give myself grace knowing that I’m not going to come back and be 100 percent right away after being out,” she said. 

That perspective comes from months of rehab and watching from the sidelines. “It forces you to see the game differently, and it slows it down a little bit,” she explained. But we know even when she’s not fully in her groove, she’s a lethal shooter. Remember those first six games in 2022 when she averaged 24 points?

Paige can already see the fire in her best friend. “Her passion and joy for basketball is back,” Paige said. “So now that she’s worked her butt off the entire rehab process, she’s feeling healthy, she’s feeling confident, and she doesn’t want to be a shell of herself anymore.”

So, in their final season together, the excitement is palpable. We can’t wait to see Paige orchestrating plays and Azzi sinking threes. If their history is anything to go by, this season could be the perfect farewell chapter to their college careers.