The 11x National Championship winning coach, Geno Auriemma is now set to enter in what will be his 40th season with UConn Huskies. After a tough exit last year in the final four, the team has been chasing the elusive NCAA title for the past eight years. But this time excitement is building as it will be the final college season for Paige Bueckers, a standout player and top prospect in next year’s WNBA draft. However, despite this optimism, Auriemma has recently pointed out potential challenges that could impact UConn’s ambitions, even with Bueckers leading the charge.

Recently, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma took some time to address media questions while perched on the sidelines. When asked about the progress of his roster, especially concerning the inconsistencies he had previously mentioned, Auriemma delved into the challenges he faces and simply cannot take control over them.

“I think — the — I have to make a decision a lot of times is the inconsistency because of inexperience. They just haven’t been in those situations enough times or the inconsistency because mentally you know we need to learn how to focus better we need to learn how to concentrate on exactly what it is,” explained Auriemma via The UConn Daily.

As head coach Auriemma expresses his concerns about the inexperience of his roster, his worries seem justified. The Huskies are gearing up for the season with a lineup that includes four freshmen and five sophomores, many of whom have only had limited playing time in the past. With a total of 14 players, nearly two-thirds of the team remains untested in high-pressure situations.

 The 70-year-old coach also said, “The inexperienced part that’s nothing we can do about that.” While the Huskies will benefit from having Paige Bueckers at the helm, the lack of experience among the other players could put extra pressure on her shoulders. This situation may lead to challenges, as Bueckers may find herself carrying a heavier load than anticipated.

Nevertheless of the challenges with a young and inexperienced roster, there’s some promising news for UConn fans and the coaching staff as the head coach had also shared an update on another key player, hinting at her potential return from injury to join the Huskies in her senior year.

Azzi Fudd’s imminent return might solve the inconsistency and inexperienced roster issue

With Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl now pursuing their professional careers in the WNBA, UConn is on the lookout for a player who can bring stability to the team alongside Paige Bueckers. Enter Azzi Fudd, who is crucial to this mission. After missing nearly the entire last season due to an ACL injury, her return could be a game-changer for the Huskies, providing much-needed support and experience to a team in transition.

Well, it looks like fans will see Fudd back on the court in her white and blue jersey sooner rather than later. Coach Geno Auriemma shared the latest injury report, stating that Fudd is expected to be active soon—potentially even before her teammates, except for Cheli Morgan. Earlier, Auriemma mentioned that Fudd was nearing a return to full practice, and the latest update suggests her rehab is going smoothly without any setbacks.

In addition to Auriemma’s updates, the UConn senior also shared her progress as she prepares for the upcoming season. “I’m doing most of practice. I would say I’m still like on load management like I’m not doing everything. Some days I do more, some days I do a little bit less, but I’m doing most stuff like it’s not, it’s, we’re almost there. I’m excited,” she stated when a couple of weeks were left to NCAA season kick-off.

As the Huskies gear up for their season opener against Boston University on November 6th, it looks like Azzi Fudd might not make her return for the first game. However, UConn fans can take comfort in knowing that she will be back on the court soon, bringing much-needed experience to the team’s roster in her senior year.