Sports

UConn star opts out of WNBA draft to return for final college season

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UConn Huskies standout Azzi Fudd has announced her return to Storrs for her final year of college basketball. Her goal? To ‘take her game to a new level.’

Fudd had the opportunity to enter the WNBA draft as a potential first-round pick this year. However, after speaking with head coach Geno Auriemma, the 22-year-old decided to return for another college season. Auriemma expressed his support for his star guard in whatever she decided but encouraged her to continue her development with the Huskies.

Fudd said she decided to opt out of the draft and will be staying at UConn, where she feels she can focus on improving the areas she needs to work on.

‘He said, ‘I would say 10 games, maybe, you’ve played to your full potential of who Azzi Fudd really is and so you wouldn’t do yourself justice leaving,” Fudd told ESPN about her conversation with Auriemma, the winningest coach in college basketball.

Fudd was the top recruit in the 2024 class, but her first year was marred by a foot injury, causing her to miss 11 games. In her sophomore year, she faced another setback due to a knee injury, which limited her to just 15 games. During her junior year, she tore her ACL just two games into the season. Despite suffering a less severe knee sprain injury this year, Fudd has managed to average 13.4 points, two rebounds, and 1.8 assists this season.

When is UConn’s next NCAA Tournament game?

The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies will face the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners in the women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 on Saturday.

Date: Saturday, March 29
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream:Fubo (free trial)
Location: Spokane Arena (Spokane, Washington)

Stream women’s NCAA Tournament games on Fubo

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