The Huskies had just crushed Arkansas State 103-34 in the NCAA Tournament’s first round two days earlier, with Fudd dropping 21 of her 27 points in the first half of the game. Fans expected more of the same—a fluid, commanding performance. Instead, they got one marred by controversial officiating that seemed to target Fudd, sparking outrage among college basketball faithful. And how could it not?

Ever since arriving in Storrs in 2021, the 22-year-old guard has been plagued by injuries. A foot injury limited her freshman year to 25 games, knee issues sidelined her for 22 games as a sophomore, and an ACL tear wiped out all but two games of her 2023-24 season. Do you know what that means? She probably played in just 42 of a possible 115 games! This year, her fourth with the Huskies, Fudd has finally found some rhythm, averaging 12.8 points per game and shooting 45.9% from three-point range through 24 games. Her return has been a boon for UConn, who sit at 33-3 and claimed the Big East Tournament title. Yet, on this night against South Dakota, she just could not seem to catch a break.

The game started innocently enough, with UConn jumping to a 34-12 lead by the end of the first quarter. Bueckers was electric, finishing with a season-high 34 points on 14-for-21 shooting, while the team capitalized on South Dakota’s 25 turnovers for 35 points. But as the second quarter unfolded, fans noticed something off. Fudd, typically a sharpshooter with a “beautiful” shot coach Geno Auriemma says, seemed sort of hesitant.

Reports began to emerge of alleged ‘unnecessary’ foul calls made by on-court officials against Azzi Fudd. For some people who were watching the game, the foul calls would not have mattered that much. After all, UConn did win the game by a 91-57 score, aka a 34-point margin! For others, however, the calls were not something they were going just to let fly by without handing down their own opinions regarding the same.

Basketball fans criticize NCAA officials over foul calls against Azzi Fudd

One social media user wrote, “I’m sick of refs acting like players throwing themselves in front of Azzi and flopping is somehow a charge. Get in the weight room.” Fudd picked up two quick fouls in the second quarter, forcing her to the bench for much of the period. She finished with 17 points and one rebound—solid, but a far cry from her dominance against Arkansas State.

It’s fair to say that the calls might have broken Fudd’s momentum, a sentiment echoed by her own words from earlier this season. After a game against Providence where she went 0-for-4 in the first half, Fudd admitted, “I think having my teammates kind of just give me some positive feedback, reassure me and them telling me that they believed in me helped. And I kind of just finally woke up.” Against South Dakota, though, the bench wasn’t enough to restore her groove fully. She shot 6-of-7 in the second half, but the early fouls had already cast a shadow.

One individual wrote, “I’m so mad about those two fouls that are not letting Azzi Fudd cook!”

Now, you might ask- Are NCAA refs ruining the game with these calls, or is Azzi Fudd just too dominant? Honestly, could be both. Fudd’s 13.2-point season average and her 45.9% three-point shooting make her a target that the defense struggles to contain legally. Yet, we cannot deny that the officiating seemed to overcompensate. One social media user captured that feeling correctly, writing, “Azzi Fudd 2 fouls. What a joke that second call was. #uconnwbb #UConn”.

The criticisms hence didn’t stop coming. “I hate when they do this cause it kills her confidence a bit but we move she’ll be good,” said another. And Auriemma has noted this too, as he said in a Hartford Courant interview, “When she’s shooting the ball, she’s got all these things going probably through her head analyzing every shot… she puts a lot of pressure on herself, so I tend to not put any pressure on her.” The refs, however, didn’t get that memo.

One social media user praised the young star over her performance. They wrote, “second highest scorer of the match with 17 points and a solid defensive performance, even after 2 frustrating early fouls and her shots not falling right away, I’m honestly really proud of miss azzi fudd”. Yes, well, if one won’t look to give their best during March Madness, then when else will they turn up?

The broader context here is that UConn likes to rely on Fudd’s presence. Because when healthy, she’s a game-changer. “Azzi’s the kind of player that can just in five possessions flow the game open, can take a 5-point lead and make it a 20-point lead,” Auriemma had said in early March. Her absence last season due to the ACL tear saw UConn falter in the Sweet 16 against Ohio State, a loss Fudd called a motivator- “I plan on staying. Why would I want to leave the basketball capital of the world?” Her return this year has definitely bolstered a team already featuring Bueckers, who’s projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and freshman phenom Sarah Strong. Therefore, when the opportunity to perform comes knocking, the door still should not remain shut.

And we all know that Fudd’s game thrives on rhythm, and disruptions like fouls hit her harder than most. Her 43% three-point shooting as a freshman and 91.2% free-throw accuracy are proof of her elite skill, but her mental game is still evolving. “It’s just the mentality in her, the aggressive, attack, non-passive mentality,” Bueckers said of Fudd. “When she has confidence and goes out there, showcases her abilities, it’s not just shooting, it’s attacking the rim, making plays on offense and defense.” Recent games have shown flashes of that- her six steals against Arkansas State two days prior tied a career-high- but this time, the fouls stifled her aggression resulting in just two.

Now, with UConn’s next matchup looming in the tournament, the question lingers: will the refs let her be? For now, fans will keep watching, hoping the whistles don’t drown out the brilliance they know she’s capable of.