Is Azzi Fudd playing tonight? Learn to know UConn star's availability status for game against Ole Miss
Azzi Fudd is cleared to suit up for the No.2 UConn Huskies against the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels in the title game of the Baha Mar Women’s Championship on Wednesday. Fudd is coming off an ACL injury, which kept her away from action since Nov. 13, 2023. The injury occurred during a team practice, sidelining her for the year after playing just two games in the 2023-24 season.
Fudd returned to the active lineup in the game against FDU on Nov. 20, making it her first game in over a year. The confirmation about Fudd’s presence in the rotation will be updated near the tip-off. UConn won the opening contest of the tournament against Oregon State Beavers 71-52 on Monday.
Azzi Fudd played 25 games in her freshman season, averaging 12.1 points and 2.7 rebounds. She shot 45.7% from the field and 43.0% from the 3-point line, cementing her role as a reliable sniper for the Huskies. The 5-foot-11 guard was also honored with a Big East All-Freshman Team and Bridgeport All-Region Team selections.
Geno Auriemma is expecting a slow start from Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd's inclusion makes UConn a better shooting team right away, also improving the spacing for the star guard Paige Bueckers. However, in her two games this season, Fudd has shot 2-11 from the field (1-8 from the 3-point line).
Geno Auriemma expects Fudd to regain her momentum slowly, due to the amount of games she has missed in the last two years. The coach also claims that her presence is the last piece of the Huskies' puzzle.
"Azzi’s waited a long time, obviously, since her junior year in high school, she’s missed more basketball than she’s actually played," Auriemma said as per The Day.
"I know how hard she’s worked. I know what it’s meant to her to come back. It’s going to be slow in the beginning but she changes our team. She makes us better...I think Azzi makes us whole."
Azzi Fudd is expected to have a great season moving forward. The sniper is on the watchlist for the Wooden Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and the Naismith Award.
The Huskies will remain in the Bahamas until Saturday. They will then fly to Connecticut on the weekend to prepare for the Dec. 3 home game against Holy Cross.