"Don't copy me": UConn stars Azzi Fudd and Ice Brady share wholesome reactions to Paige Bueckers' latest Nike signature shoes

UConn teammates Azzi Fudd and Ice Brady had wholesome reactions to Paige Bueckers' debut of her Nike signature shoes. Ahead of the Women’s Champions Classic on Saturday, Bueckers launched the G.T. Hustle 3 with Nike, making her the first college athlete with a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal to design and release a Nike shoe.

The sneakers, priced at $190 for adult sizes, are available on Nike’s SNKRS website and app.

The launch event featured UConn alumni and former WNBA stars Jessica Moore and Sue Bird.

In a video shared on X (Twitter), Fudd and Brady shared their reactions.

"My first reaction was jaw-dropping. They’re beautiful," Fudd commented.

"They’re beautiful," Brady agreed.

"Don’t copy me," Fudd joked.

"No, you said they were jaw-dropping," Brady corrected.

The shoe design follows Bueckers' inclinations, with baby blue and lavender purple. On the left tongue, there are area codes for Storrs, Connecticut, and Hopkins, Minnesota, her hometown. The right tongue features an embroidered bucket, a tribute to her surname and nickname "Paige Buckets." It also includes the inspiring statement "Be You, Be Great," which was inspired by her father.

To honor women’s sports, Nike ensured that over 90% of the team involved in testing and developing the G.T. Hustle 3 were female athletes.

Before the official launch, Bueckers gifted her "twin" Nika Muhl and teammates custom pairs, new “Buckets” apparel, purple Bose headphones and a mini basketball, all packaged in a unique bucket-shaped case.

Bueckers' Huskies gear up for the First Women’s Champions Classic

No. 2 UConn (7-0) will take on No. 22 Louisville (5-3) this Saturday in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Announced in February, this annual event will feature UConn and other top teams, serving as the women’s counterpart to the men’s Champions Classic, which has showcased teams like Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas since 2011.

With a New York-based crowd, a dominant UConn squad, and the star power of Paige Bueckers, the matchup promises to be exciting for basketball fans. Bueckers, a projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, leads the Huskies with 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game, shooting 60.9%, including 46.9% from the 3-point line.

Louisville faces a tough challenge, having suffered all three losses this season to ranked teams. They aim to turn the tables after falling to UConn 86-62 on December 16, 2023. Historically, UConn has dominated this matchup, holding a 19-3 record against the Cardinals.