"As a kid I was a tomboy": Paige Bueckers reacts to Azzi Fudd's flattering take on UConn star's competitive mindset

UConn's Paige Bueckers led the way in the Huskies’ victory over Providence on Sunday with a game-high 23 points. She was joined by teammates Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold in the postgame presser.

Fudd opened up about what she admires most about her longtime friend Bueckers, particularly about Bueckers' competitive mindset and selfless nature:

"That's something I really admire — the way she handled her rehab, the way she comes to practice, the way she leads this team — everything she does, she puts everything into it," Fudd said (7:03).

Paige Bueckers smiled slightly and responded:

"I think I was born with it. It was sort of in my nature. As a kid I was a tomboy," she said (7:35). "I played every single sport growing up at recess ... and really it's just like you have a feeling of hating losing more than you love winning. But I love winning and I hate losing, so it's like equal."

"I think it's just sort of definitely in my nature of wanting to be the best, wanting to win, and doing everything that I can to control that ... So it's definitely a mindset, something that I think I was sort of born with."

UConn's Paige Bueckers stats vs. Providence (Dec. 29)

Paige Bueckers, a 6-foot senior guard, has been consistently proving her doubters wrong, who criticized her after her one-digit scoring performance against Louisville on Dec. 7. She has dropped 20-plus points in all five of the Huskies' games since then, including Sunday's win over the Friars.

Bueckers finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists as UConn improved to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in Big East play.

Here are her full stat lines:

• 27 minutes played
• 23 points
• 4 rebounds
• 4 assists
• 2 steals
• 0 blocks
• 0 turnovers
• 8-12 FG
• 1-4 3PT
• 6-6 FT

Freshman forward Sarah Strong had a small dip in production compared to her season averages with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Azzi Fudd, who started her first game since Dec. 7 after suffering a knee sprain, scored 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Meanwhile, UConn's top scorer, Paige Bueckers, has demonstrated incredible efficiency on the offensive end, converting 57.1% of her field goals so far this season.

The Huskies play their next game at Marquette on the very first day of 2025.