“Rest in Sweetest Peace”: Paige Bueckers Mourns the Passing of an “Angel” Alongside Azzi Fudd and Other UConn Huskies

Abigail Leah Zittoun, a 13-year-old passionate UConn Huskies fan had a close association with their women’s basketball team. She had named guard Evina Westbrook as her favorite, been a regular at coach Geno Auriemma’s charity event, and had forged a bond with Paige Bueckers as well. So when Abigail passed away after a courageous seven-year battle with cancer, the Huskies paid their heartfelt tributes to her.

Born to Dan and Gwen Zittoun on May 8, 2011, Abby grew up with her sisters in Simsbury, Connecticut. But at the tender age of six, she faced grueling treatments: surgery, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, and more, after being diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), a rare form of cancer.

Abigail’s father Dan, principal at Hall High School in West Hartford, said he and his wife Gwen first noticed that something was wrong with Abigail’s eye in October of 2017. So they decided to take her to an ophthalmologist, who asked to take her to the emergency room. It was there they discovered she had a tumor in her nasal cavity. Chemotherapy followed, then an 18-hour craniotomy surgery, then radiation.

When she was nine she underwent a 10-hour surgery having endured months of chemotherapy. She also underwent a bone marrow transplant and antibody therapy, but her spirit remained undeterred. Her mother, Gwen described her as “wise beyond her years.” Talking about her nature, her mother added, “She loves basketball and dancing and arts and crafts and being with her sisters. She’s exceptionally funny, with amazing comedic timing. She’s also a very empathetic person. She draws people to her with her personality and welcoming nature. She’s kind and gentle and a caretaker by nature. 

Despite this unimaginable pain, she was a happy child who loved life. “I always know what is happening with my cancer or the treatments, and I just try to distract myself to forget what is happening and focus on the future or what will happen later in life,” she said. Abby adored reading, building Legos, and drawing. She also had a huge passion for Marvel movies and fantasy football. But one of her biggest joys was watching sports—especially UConn women’s basketball.

“I’m a really big UConn fan. They have a really amazing team, and I love the way they always bounce back. If they lose a game, they find a way to come right back and win again,” she once said. This battling spirit drew the attention of UConn players including Bueckers, Nika Muhl, and Caroline Ducharme who often visited her in the hospital to support her.

After she passed away on October 15, Paige Bueckers took to her Instagram stories on Thursday to share some of the memories she had with the young fan. Posting a collage of various times she met Abby, Bueckers wrote, “Thanks for being a light and inspiration to everyone around you. Abby, you are strong forever.” Later she posted another story writing, “Our +1 forever and always.”

The Huskies players reciprocated the admiration Abby had for them, forming a heartwarming bond over the years. She first connected with them at Geno Auriemma’s charity golf tournament and later her connection with UConn was extended to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she received treatment.

As an ambassador for the hospital, she worked closely with the Huskies at charity events. “She’s seen more than any child her age ever should,” her mother once said. Though cancer ravaged her little body, her spirit remained unshaken all her life. Gwen Zittoun said, “Like the UConn players, Abby is a role model, though she might not realize it. She inspired everyone with her bravery and grace.”

The UConn Huskies players were hit hard when the news of Abby Zittoun’s tragic passing came through. They fondly remembered her as they shared some of their memories with Zittoun on their social media.

Abby Zittoun: Forever in the Huskies’ Hearts

Abigail Zittoun was a regular attendee at Huskies coach Geno Auriemma’s charity event, “Geno for kids.” The event supports Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s cancer program. Over the years she developed a bond with the team showing up at their practice and interacting with the players. Out of all the Huskies, former guard Evina Westbrook was her favorite. Describing her bond with her, Abby once said,

“She is really sweet and she always makes sure everyone on the team is really happy and having a great time. When we went to the practice in Storrs she gave me her number so we could keep in touch.”

After Abby’s demise, Caroline Ducharme posted a moving tribute on Instagram. In a carousel of pictures with the little star, she wrote, “You changed my life more than you could ever know. I love you to the moon and back, beautiful. Keep smiling, watching Gilmore Girls, and rest in the sweetest peace, angel.” 

Paige reshared Caroline Ducharme’s post, writing, “Forever our Abby💜.” In another story, she shared a touching photo of her hugging Abby, calling her “Our superwoman 🫶.” The Huskies guard Azzi Fudd also shared Ducharme’s post on her Instagram, adding her own heartfelt message, “The sweetest soul🩷.”

The young one was indeed a beacon of light for these athletes. Whether meeting the team at events, taking pictures, or simply sharing moments of laughter, Abby became their “+1.”

Though she has departed, her spirit will continue to inspire the team for years to come. EssentiallySports sends their heartfelt condolences to the Zittoun family.