The UConn Huskies hit the court refreshed after a week-long break following their loss to the USC Trojans—and they’re back in winning form. Geno Auriemma’s squad made easy work of Providence, but what really had UConn fans buzzing was Azzi Fudd’s return to the starting lineup. Although Fudd didn’t have her best game, Coach Auriemma didn’t hold back in sharing his confidence in her potential but also offered thoughts on the frustration injury-prone players face.

After UConn’s commanding 67-41 victory, Geno Auriemma, shared his thoughts on Fudd’s performance while addressing the media. The #35 guard showed flashes of brilliance with some solid shots from beyond the arc, even though her conversion rate was lower than expected. However, Auriemma’s response was filled with optimism, emphasizing his belief that Fudd is on the right track and will only improve with time.

“It’s good to get her back. Good to get her out there and you know, when she gets her legs under, I think things will get even better. You know right now, I think the process is we’re kind of starting over again. It seems like we’re constantly going to start-stop with Azzi,” the UConn head coach told media. 

The 22-year-old guard managed just 8 points in her 24 minutes on the court, sinking 2 of her 6 three-point attempts for a 33.3% shooting accuracy. While those numbers aren’t exactly eye-popping, Fudd’s history of injuries since her sophomore year adds another layer to the story. She had only returned late in November this season after spending a year in recovery. But 5 games in, Fudd was back on the bench after spraining her knee in a game against Louisville. Auriemma acknowledged the frustration that injuries can bring, not just for the team but for the player herself.

Auriemma said, “I think there has to be [frustration] I would think. You know anytime you can’t get into any kind of routine any kind of rhythm it’s difficult… It’s always a threat you know when she’s in the game. There always a threat she might go four for four and in a spurt and put the game away. So it’ll come. It’s just going to take a little bit of time.” 

A threat, she has been, averaging 43% from beyond the arc and 45.7% from the field during her freshman year. Though she currently averages 38%, the best of her abilities haven’t been showcased of late, thanks to the many injuries.

Azzi Fudd battling setbacks with resilience

“I’m personally done talking about ‘next year,’” Fudd shared during a panel at the ESPNW Summit in May. Her frustration is justified, considering how injuries—ranging from minor setbacks to season-ending blows—have repeatedly disrupted her time on the court. In three years with the Huskies, Fudd has played in just 49 games, limiting her chances to fully demonstrate her potential.

What started as a promising freshman year was interrupted by a stress injury to her right foot, initially thought to be a two-week setback but ultimately keeping her out for 11 games. Still, she managed to appear in 25 games that season.

Her sophomore year was even tougher. On December 4, 2022, she suffered a right knee injury during a game against Notre Dame when a teammate accidentally fell on her, forcing her to sit out eight games. Although she returned in January, her comeback was short-lived, as she re-injured the same knee just one game later, resulting in an extended 22-game absence.

The challenges didn’t stop there for Fudd. In a heartbreaking turn of events last November, she tore her right ACL and MCL during practice, resulting in a season-ending injury. This devastating setback limited her to just two games in the 2023-24 season.

Despite the setbacks, Fudd remains resilient. Speaking to CBS Sports, she emphasized her focus on what she still has and her determination to recover. “It’s not about what I’ve lost. It’s about what I still have and what I’m doing to get back to that point.” She has now already played 7 games this season and started on three occasions.

While her current scoring average sits at 8.3 points per game, head coach Geno Auriemma remains confident that the UConn guard will improve as the season unfolds.