Azzi Fudd sidelined as UConn’s injury struggles continue

UConn’s injury woes continue, as leading scorer Azzi Fudd is expected to miss up to six weeks with a right knee injury, the team announced Tuesday.

Fudd’s injury came during the first quarter of UConn’s loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. An MRI and further evaluation on Monday confirmed the injury, and the Huskies expect her to miss three to six weeks.

BREAKING: UConn star Azzi Fudd is expected to miss 3-6 weeks with a right knee injury, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/mUIYADd1ap

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Teammate Aliyah Edwards fell backwards into Fudd’s right knee during Sunday’s game. The sophomore guard left briefly for the locker room before re-entering the game for four minutes.

During the second half, though, Fudd did not play. At the time, coach Geno Auriemma said Fudd did not take the court in the final two quarters out of precaution.

But now UConn will be without her for the foreseeable future.

Fudd has had an outstanding start to the year, averaging 20.6 points per game and putting herself into the conversation for national player of the year.

But the sophomore has struggled with injuries. During her high school career, in April 2019, she tore her MCL and ACL in her right knee. A lingering foot injury sidelined her for 11 games last year.

The loss of Fudd against Notre Dame exposed the Huskies’ lack of scoring depth, which is exacerbated by the fact that the team is without star player Paige Bueckers for the season. Bueckers tore her ACL during the preseason.

Freshman Ice Brady is also out for the season with a dislocated patella. Dorka Juhász is sidelined with a broken thumb, though she is expected back soon.

Following the team’s loss to Notre Dame, UConn fell from No. 3 to No. 6 in the latest Associated Press poll.