Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers Share Spotlight on SLAM Cover

Azzi Fudd enters her new season at UConn carrying strong momentum after leading the Huskies, together with Paige Bueckers, to a national championship, where she scored 24 points in the title game. The star guard extended her stellar form in the season opener, adding 20 points in a 79–66 victory over Louisville beside teammate Sarah Strong.

Now positioned as a likely top prospect for the next WNBA Draft, Fudd’s journey intersects intriguingly with that of her close friend Paige Bueckers. The Dallas Wings, who finished last this past season and hold the best odds for the top pick in the 2026 draft, might unite the two UConn standouts again on a professional court. The Wings already selected Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.

The parallel rise of these two athletes has drawn attention once more as Fudd reflects on her evolving story through her appearances on SLAM magazine covers. Her newest feature mirrors Bueckers’s 2021 cover, symbolizing both individual growth and enduring friendship.

Fudd Reflects on Her SLAM Cover Experiences

“Fudd Around and Find Out,” her podcast, offered a candid space where Fudd shared how her perspective has changed since her first SLAM cover in 2021, which featured her alongside then-freshman teammate Paige Bueckers, focusing on their emergence as rising basketball stars.

Through this self-reflection, Fudd emphasized how her identity as an athlete and public figure has matured both on and off the court, marking a new chapter in her career as she leads the Huskies once again.

Author’s Summary

Azzi Fudd’s growth from a promising freshman to a dynamic UConn leader highlights her evolving legacy and bond with fellow star Paige Bueckers, both on magazine covers and in basketball history.