Geno Auriemma coached Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd for years at UConn, so it makes sense that he is still paying attention to how the two are doing as professionals. These days, both of his former stars share a backcourt on the Dallas Wings, and the Hall of Fame coach has enjoyed their reunion.
Auriemma recently spoke about the duo and his friendship with Wings head coach Jose Fernandez.
Geno Auriemma Gets an Update On Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Straight From Wings HC Jose Fernandez
When Fernandez took the Dallas job, one of the first things he did was fly up to Connecticut to see his old friend. He picked Auriemma’s brain about coaching Bueckers while also scouting Fudd, who still played for the Huskies at the time. Recently, Auriemma reached out to Fernandez to check in on how everything was going with his former stars.
“I said to [Fernandez], ‘You doing alright?’ [He said], ‘I’m doing great.’ I say, ‘How my guys?’ He goes, ‘Your guys are great.’ He goes, ‘No, let me fix that. They’re better than great. They’re absolutely amazing,'” Auriemma said. “That’s what he said about Paige and Azzi. It’s pretty cool.”
Auriemma also had a little fun with the fact that Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, has come off the bench for a number of Dallas’ games this season.
“You know, horror of horrors, Azzi had to come off the bench for a couple games,” joked Auriemma. “I thought that was a fire-able defense.”
The legendary coach said he “hopes” to make it to the Wings’ game in Hartford against the Connecticut Sun, and he plans to attend Dallas’ game at New York on July 7.
Bueckers, Fudd Have the Wings Rolling
Dallas has been one of the better teams in the WNBA so far this season. The Wings are currently 7-3 after beating the Los Angeles Sparks 104-96 on Friday. They have won four straight, posting their best 10-game start since the franchise relocated to Dallas in 2016.
Bueckers has picked up right where she left off after winning Rookie of the Year last season. She is averaging 18.3 points and 6.2 assists per game, and she just handed out a career-high 14 assists against the Sparks to tie the franchise’s single-game record.
Fudd has settled in nicely after a quiet start to her rookie year, with her breakout coming in late May when she had 24 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 6 threes in a 91-76 win over the New York Liberty, and then followed it up with an efficient 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block in a 95-87 win over the Las Vegas Aces. She is now averaging 12.0 points per game while shooting 56.3% from the field, 41.7% from deep, and 75% from the free-throw line.
The two never got a fully healthy season together at UConn because of injuries, even though their final year as college teammates ended with a national championship.
Now, in the pros, they are finally getting to show what their backcourt tandem can look like over a long stretch.
