Azzi Fudd was touted as a sure-shot first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. However, the 22-year-old has thrown a curveball to several of the GM’s plans.
The shooting guard has elected to sit out this draft and shined a light on taking such a big step after UConn galloped into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
Azzi Fudd Highlights Her Reasons for Staying at the UConn Huskies for One More Year
On Monday, March 24, UConn demolished South Dakota 91-57. While Paige Bueckers stole the show, Fudd acted as a perfect foil for her throughout the game. Fudd registered the second-highest point tally in the game with 17 under her belt.
Celebrations over their qualification to the Sweet 16 were still raging in Connecticut, but in a recent interview with ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, she dropped the bombshell that another year in college will let her “work on everything I need to work on” and not go instantly into a season in WNBA.
The fact that she doesn’t feel ready can be taken as the reason why Fudd isn’t declaring for the draft just yet.
Breaking: UConn Huskies star Azzi Fudd will return to college next season and forgo entering the 2025 WNBA draft.
Fudd told ESPN returning will allow her to “work on everything I need to work on” — and she believes one final year in Storrs will take her game to an all-new level pic.twitter.com/mlhrlIqMYo
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou)
In the interview, the 2021 All-American highlighted that veteran UConn coach Geno Auriemma helped her make this decision. However, she also highlighted that her partner-in-crime, Bueckers, possibly leaving would put extra responsibilities on her shoulders.
“Paige is going to be gone, so I can’t rely on her to speak and do all that [leadership] stuff, on and off the court. I will have to be in that position,” she said.
She further highlighted that next year will be her last at UConn, and that will give her extra motivation to work and show her talents on the court since she will not have the cushion of “next year” with her.
SEE MORE: Azzi Fudd’s Dad Reveals Wholesome Bond With Paige Bueckers as UConn Duo Eye March Madness Triumph
Auriemma Highlighted the Positives of Fudd Staying Another Year
Fudd has played 72 games under Auriemma in her college career. She has averaged 13.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. In his interview with ESPN, the 71-year-old highlighted that Fudd is yet to reach her potential, and she can do wonders in a year without going pro.
“Having someone of Azzi’s ability and the way she can just control a game, she just hasn’t had an opportunity, at this point, to fully show who she is, what she can do, what impact she can have on our program and on college basketball,” he said.
He further highlighted that if Fudd manages to stay injury-free, she will show the world what she is capable of without Bueckers’ backing.
