Every morning UConn women's basketball star Azzi Fudd wakes up sore after a difficult game, she considers it a blessing. In February, the 2025 national champion finished the first completely healthy wire-to-wire regular season of her college career, finally putting behind her the bad memories of injuries in years past.
"I've never been so grateful for those little aches and pains," she told JWS earlier this month, during the brief lull between the Huskies' conference tournament win and' Women's March Madness.
Fudd has assumed a slightly different role for UConn women's basketball this season compared to past years. The senior has stepped up to fill the leadership void left by now-WNBA standout Paige Bueckers after last year's national championship victory — where Fudd herself claimed Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.
UConn has also benefitted from last season's experience, as Fudd and her teammates learn to balance legacy with expectations ahead of what's becoming a deep 2026 NCAA tournament run.
"It's a more calming energy this year," Fudd said. "Not in a sense of feeling complacent, but it's not as frantic as I feel like the energy was before."
The Huskies look likely to run back the clock, zeroing in on the program's first perfect season since 2016 behind an even more dynamic, top-to-bottom squad than last year's champions. But regardless of the outcome, the final chapter of Fudd's college career will come to an end in the next two weeks.
"I really want to cherish just the little moments of my teammates," said the projected top 2026 WNBA draft pick. "I know how special it is to be in a place, a program like this, where it's literally a family."
Azzi Fudd Balances Basketball, Travel, and NIL Partnerships
Five seasons in the NCAA has transformed the 2026 Naismith Player of the Year finalist into an expert traveler. She's able to put in consistent performances, whether she's at home in Storrs or on the road. And when she's not playing, she's never far from the game, with fans spotting her courtside at WNBA and Unrivaled games throughout the summer.
But with the hectic Women's March Madness schedule, even she gets rattled sometimes.
"I feel stressed every time we travel, I'm not gonna lie," she said. "I'm in panic mode from the time practice ends to sitting down on that bus."
She packs light, keeping her Bible devotional, a book to read, and her phone charger within reach at all times. Those three items plus her headphones and basketball sneakers, and she's ready for gameday.
That travel savvy fuels Fudd's NIL partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, as the hotel chain furthers its investments in women's sports. The DC-area native pops up frequently during NCAA tournament commercial breaks, cheering on her teammates or talking with legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma in Marriott Bonvoy's latest ad campaign.
"Marriott Bonvoy did a great job of capturing and highlighting those little moments that are key," she said.
The partnership has awakened a trove of cherished memories for Fudd. She recalls team movie nights, in-flight card games, and bothering her seat buddies as they fall asleep on long rides.
"I can't believe I only have a few of those trips left," she said. "Those are gonna be moments that I miss a lot."
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong Fuel UConn Women's Basketball
Speaking of long rides, UConn has blown through the first two rounds of NCAA tournament competition with ease. The Huskies first defeated No. 16 seed UTSA 90-52. Then, Fudd dropped a career high-tying 34 points on No. 9 Syracuse, powering UConn to a 98-45 victory in her final game at Gampel Pavilion.
The guard's partner on the court is fellow POY frontrunner Sarah Strong, now a dominant sophomore after winning the 2025 title as a true freshman. Strong leads the team in points, rebounds, and steals, while Fudd's prowess from behind the arc creates an unstoppable one-two punch.
"It's kind of what Azzi does — not miss," Strong said after Fudd's standout second-round performance. "I'm happy to see her at her most confident self. It's going to be really important in the long run, just really happy for her."
But UConn women's basketball is not simply a two-player operation. The Huskies are the healthiest they've been in years, with depth off the bench and strength on both sides of the ball. Forward Serah Williams opens Strong up in the paint, while Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold set the tone on defense. Freshman Blanca Quiñonez subsequently provides opponents little relief off the bench. And she's backed up by equally dangerous options like transfer guard Kayleigh Heckel and young center Jana El Alfy.
"When you have a lot of players, you hope that they're different from each other," Auriemma told reporters in January. "As much as it's a challenge trying to give people minutes, it's worse sitting there looking down and going, 'I wish I had a couple more guys to put in.'"
But with such power inevitably comes increased attention and responsibility. Fudd isn't a naturally vocal leader. But she's been tasked with pushing her own comfort zone boundaries in Bueckers' commanding stead.
And the effort's been paying off, as Fudd arms the next generation with the tools to fill her shoes.
"I've been learning how to live in that uncomfortable space and to embrace it," she said. "It's been really cool to see my younger teammates also step into that role, into that newfound confidence."
From Storrs to the WNBA: The Final NCAA Chapter
Just four more wins stand between Fudd and a second consecutive national title. And then, of course, it'll be time to move on. In addition to travelling with her teammates, she'll miss her relationship with Auriemma, whom she credits with helping her find her voice at UConn.
"When you come in, it feels like that power dynamic [where] you're looking up to him and he's looking down on you," she explained. "Whereas, you continue throughout your years here [and] you're not peers, but it's a working relationship. You can go to him and have those conversations, and it's not one-sided."
The 23-year-old has been preparing for the pros, honing her off-ball movement by setting screens and creating opportunities while cutting.
"Not just running around, but setting things up," she said, describing her progress on the court. "[I'm] trying to either get myself or someone else open every single time I do something."
She's also upped her defensive game, aggressively hunting for steals and locking down opposing shooters. And while she works to sharpen her physical skills, her NIL deals and rising celebrity off the court provide an edge for the future.
But for the next two weeks, Fudd is focused on soaking up every second she has left with her squad.
"Each individual person, we've gone through so much together," she said. "To be able to bring that all together and say, 'Look at all that we've been through, look at all that we've accomplished.' We're ready for whatever life throws at us."
