"She's the type of player you would love to have on your team" - When Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd heaped praise on "rebounding machine" Angel Reese
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are expected to feature among the top picks in the 2025 WNBA draft. The duo, who share a great friendship, also seemingly have another thing in common: their respect for Angel Reese.
Per Sports Illustrated, Bueckers and Fudd spoke highly about ex-LSU Tigers forward Reese, whom the Chicago Sky drafted seventh overall in this year's WNBA draft, in a resurfaced clip from 2021. Fudd spoke volumes of her talent, acknowledging her role in advancing the women's basketball game.
"In AAU, we played against her," said Fudd. "Even back then, she was a rebounding machine. Always crashing the board, she's always been tall and long.
"It's been really cool, also from the DMV, to see her progress her game and play, and kind of have the role that she has now with women's basketball."
Bueckers, meanwhile, acknowledged Reese's competitive spirit and her innate ability to make her teammates better.
"But, she's just ultra competitive," said Bueckers. "You can tell when you're her teammate, she just instills this confidence within you and makes you believe in yourself even more than you already do.
"She's definitely the type of player you would love to have on your team."
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd gearing up for a strong season
While Azzi Fudd played just two games due to injury, Paige Bueckers starred in the 2023-24 season. In 35 starts, Bueckers averaged 21.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals en route to winning the Big East Player of the Year and unanimous First-Team All-American honors.
While Bueckers is touted as a top-five pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Fudd needs a strong 2024-25 season with the Huskies to raise her stock after missing out last season.
Bueckers and Fudd will also look to help Huskies coach Geno Auriemma make history. He is just three wins behind Tara VanDeeveer in the all-time list of winningest coaches in college basketball.
While Auriemma has won 11 NCAA Tournament titles in 39 seasons with the Huskies, he hasn't won one since 2016. Bueckers will look to see out her college basketball career on a high and hope to win the one title which has eluded her so far: the national championship.