IN PHOTOS: UConn stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd make fans’ day as they pose and hoop at camp

UConn basketball standouts Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd collaborated to organize the Hooping for a Cure basketball camp, on July 27 and 28 at St. John’s College HS in Washington, D.C. In the two-day event, they spoke with young athletes from grades 3 to 8, who gathered to learn new skills, participate in contests, and play competitive games.

An Instagram post shows several snippets of Bueckers and Fudd going through drills, taking pictures with campers and signing autographs.

Fudd hosted the eighth annual Hooping for a Cure camp and it was a huge success since a large number of young ballers participated in the event. The presence of Paige Bueckers heightened the excitement, with her being the Big East Player of the Year and offering campers valuable experience.

Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's friendship

The bond between Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd goes beyond the basketball court. Fudd, a top-rated player in the 2021 class, made a commitment to join her friend at UConn. Fudd talked about her friendship with Bueckers to Overtime in 2019:

"Even though Paige is my best friend, she is one of the most annoying people ever. She's like a thousand siblings. Our friendship is very up and down, we fight a lot. With Paige, everything turns into a competition. It can be absolutely anything."

Their bond dates back to high school, where they attended a USA Basketball camp and competed for the same position. Initially, Fudd did not see Paige Bueckers as a significant threat, but that changed once she saw her play at the camp.

"I don’t really look like a basketball player as much as I am," Bueckers said. "She [Azzi] definitely underestimated me. I knew what she was. She was a bucket. But I guess it took a while for her to understand what I was."

Their partnership began on Team USA during the 2018 FIBA Under 17 World Cup, where they played a role in securing victory for their country. They later reunited at the FIBA Under 19 World Cup, adding another gold medal to their achievements..

At Connecticut, Bueckers and Fudd shared two seasons on the court. Unfortunately, Bueckers had to sit out the 2022-23 season due to injury. Similarly, Azzi's season was abruptly ended by a knee injury that forced her to miss several games.

During 2021-22, Fudd's freshman year, the duo led the Huskies to the NCAA championship game and last season, they reached the Final Four.