No one can deny the importance of Azzi Fudd for UConn’s women’s basketball team. She provides both the scoring and leadership the team needs. In her sophomore year, she averaged 15.1 points per game while shooting with 46% accuracy from the field, showcasing her efficiency as a scorer. It’s her ability to deliver in high-pressure situations that have complemented talents like Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards, making her a cornerstone of UConn’s strategy.

After returning from an ACL injury, she made her first appearance this season with a promising performance, and she has kept up the pace ever since. But her journey isn’t as easy as it may sound.

It all started during her high school junior year

While many believe her experience with injuries started during her collegiate career, it didn’t. Back in 2019, when Fudd was in high school, she got injured for the first time. At that time, she was averaging 26.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, making it easy for Team USA to consider her for the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup.

During the finals of the selection tournament, she tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee. Due to the nature of her injury, two separate surgeries were done: the first for the MCL and the second several weeks later for the ACL. While under rehabilitation, she didn’t lose hope and attended Stephen Curry’s camp.

She then returned to St. John’s team in January 2020, averaging 19.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and nearly two assists while still recovering from her injury. As dominant as she was, there was no doubt that she would get offers from various colleges as she was a five-star recruit and ranked No.1 in 2021 by ESPN. And she did—from Maryland, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Texas, Oregon, UCLA, Louisville, and the Huskies. She chose UConn. She joined UConn and linked up with her best friend and the 2020 No.1 recruit, Paige Bueckers.

As she entered the Huskies roster, she believed that everything was going well. On November 21, 2021, she made her debut, scoring 7 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in a 95-80 win over Arkansas. A couple of months later, she had her first collegiate start against rival Tennessee, finishing with a career-high of 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

And this went on until she was struck hard. During her freshman year, Fudd suffered a stress injury on her right foot. While head coach Geno Auriemma expected her to be out for at least two weeks, Fudd missed out on eleven games. She played 25 games as a freshman with the Huskies.

In her sophomore season, she was as careful as she could have been to avoid falling prey to injuries. But little did she know it just wasn’t meant to be.

Injuries still testing Azzi Fudd’s resilience at every turn

On December 4th, 2022, during a matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Fudd got injured again. This time, it was due to one of the opponents falling on her knee. As a result, she was sidelined for over eight games. But once again, she didn’t lose hope and recollected herself to play. After a month, she made a comeback and everything went smoothly as she began dominating the court once again.

Unfortunately, the happiness was short-lived as she endured another injury after one game. This time it was the same right knee but in a game against the Georgetown Hoyas. This time it cost her 22 games. But yet again, she managed to hit the court when the Huskies needed her the most during the Big East Tournament quarterfinal game against the same Hoyas.

By the time her junior year started, injuries were not new to the guard, but she was eager to dominate on the court. So, she decided to make extra efforts to be as dominant as ever. But yet again, injuries left her struggling. This time, it was during a practice session in November 2023 when she suffered a right knee injury, ruling her out for the entire season.

She returned to the Huskies lineup last month and helped them in an 85-41 win over Fairleigh Dickinson that gave head coach Geno Auriemma the NCAA all-time wins record. “I just had so much nervous excitement…I was talking to Paige (Bueckers) before the game about how I just wanted to play.” And why wouldn’t the girl be excited? With injuries limiting her gameplay, she has only two seasons of eligibility left.

“Azzi has waited a long time, obviously,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “Since her junior year in high school, she’s missed more basketball than she’s played. I know how hard she’s worked and what it’s meant to her to come back. It’s going to be slow going at the beginning. She changes our team, makes us better.”

But once again, she was hit with the injury bug. The UConn women’s basketball star guard endured a minor sprain in her right knee during the game against Louisville on December 7. And this ruled Fudd out again, but there’s good news too.

“It’s probably the first good news I’ve ever gotten from Dr. Coyner (UConn’s Orthopedic Physician). She was so excited she couldn’t wait to tell me,” Auriemma said. As it’s a minor sprain, Fudd’s return might not take too long. And that’s why her gameplay will be on a day-to-day basis. Despite all the setbacks, Azzi Fudd still has the potential.