Did Azzi Fudd play today? Know more of UConn star's status (Nov 10)

UConn played without guard Azzi Fudd on Sunday, for the second straight game in the 2024-25 women's college basketball season. That's because she continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries sustained last season.

Fudd is expected to return in the coming weeks (per Sports Illustrated), giving No. 2 UConn another scoring threat in its quest for the 12th national title.

The 5-foot-11 guard's continued absence has had little effect on the Huskies' 2024-25 campaign thus far, winning their first two games against Boston University and South Florida convincingly.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma expressed excitement over the possibility of Fudd suiting up in the coming weeks. However, he was anxious about how the combination of Fudd and Paige Bueckers would look like when the senior guard suited up for the Huskies.

"I've almost forgotten what that could look like, or should look like, or have an imagination of, 'Wow, I've seen them at their best together,' and I'm anxious to see that again," the 11-time champion coach said per CBS Sports.

"It's really an unknown at this point. I can only go by some of the things that I've seen I practice," Auriemma added.

In three seasons with the Huskies, Fudd averaged 13.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals per game. Her injuries last season were a part of UConn's injury-hit 2023-24 campaign which forced them to suit up with six healthy players.

Fortunately for the Huskies, the remaining healthy players, led by Paige Bueckers and Kamorea "KK" Arnold, soldiered on and won the Big East regular season-tournament double and made the Final Four, losing 71-69 to the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa.

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UConn HC Geno Auriemma believes Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd combo will be fun to watch

UConn coach Geno Auriemma believed that the Paige Bueckers-Azzi Fudd combination will be fun to watch this season, saying that the duo still hasn't scratched the surface in terms of potential.

"We've seen a lot of one or the other, but we have only seen a glimpse of the combined action together," Auriemma said.

Auriemma pointed out that he expects Azzi Fudd to show aggression from the first time she steps onto the court after the injury.

"I do know that having a much more aggressive Azzi would really help that combination work. It's one of the great expectations that exist in our program right now," he said.

The first two games had been easy for the No. 2-ranked UConn, winning by an average of 45.5 points. Azzi Fudd will have another opportunity to suit up for the first time with the Huskies against No. 16 North Carolina on Friday.