Azzi Fudd: “Kids aren’t supposed to shoot 3s”: When Paige Bueckers recalled getting rebuked by her dad while playing rec ball

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UConn star Azzi Fudd posted a series of videos to her YouTube channel and one was with Paige Bueckers, her then-future teammate. In the "Welcome to 20 Questions with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd," the two answered a variety of questions pertaining to topics within basketball and out of it.

"It's probably in first or second grade when I was playing rec ball and I was playing up early against fourth graders," Bueckers said. "I was cooking. I had made a deep three, and kids aren't supposed to shoot threes in your first or second grade.

"My dad was coaching, and I went by the sidelines and I high five my dad, 'It's too easy.' I got yelled at after the game. But that's when my killer mentality kind of came about."

Fudd looked at her friend in shock and confusion throughout the story before laughing at the end as Bueckers recounted how she got yelled at by her dad.

Paige Bueckers & Azzi Fudd's senior season at UConn

The senior guards have been teammates at UConn since the 2021-22 season. Paige Bueckers' college career started the year before, and she is currently in her fifth and final year with the Huskies. Fudd is eligible to return for another season, but she has yet to announce if she plans to do so.

After a career plagued by injuries, Fudd has stayed relatively healthy this season. She suffered a minor knee sprain in December but has appeared in 25 of UConn's 32 games this season.

The guard's 12.8 points per game are up from 11 last season and her 47.7% field goal percentage is a career high. Fudd has also seen immense improvement from beyond the arc, shooting 45.2%.

NCAA Womens Basketball: Marquette at Connecticut - Source: Imagn

Paige Bueckers, who has emerged as one of the leading names in women's college basketball, has had an up-and-down season. Her point and rebound averages have experienced dips since last season, but her five average assists are the most since her freshman year.

The senior guard is shooting 53.4% from the field, up slightly from 53% last season. However, she has seen a small decrease in her 3-point percentage, which is at 40.8% this season as compared to 41.6% last year. Her 88.8% free throw percentage is a career-high.

With the incredible season, Paige Bueckers led the Huskies to win their 5th straight Big East regular-season title after the 72-53 win over Creighton on Thursday.

About the author

Lindsey Ware is a college sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over five years of experience working with publications such as The News & Observer, The Daily Tar Heel, Triangle Tribune and Cardiac Cane. She has also worked for Major League Baseball, The Holly Springs Salamanders, The Tri-City Chili Peppers, Tuffy Talk, Super Meteors Basketball, Just Good Network and Living Sport.

Lindsey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill. Her education allowed Lindsey to gain experience in sports communication, which she honed in internships. Other than being a storyteller and sports fanatic, Lindsey is also a social media and marketing specialist.

Her favorite college team is UNC, although she grew up a N.C. State fan as both of her parents are Wolfpack alumni. Michael Jordan was a huge deal in North Carolina when Lindsey was growing up, and after a summer spent at UNC’s Sports Journalism Camp back in high school, Lindsey was set on being a Tar Heel.

Lindsey's favorite college coach of all time is Roy Williams. During her time attending UNC Chapel Hill and writing for The Daily Tar Heel, Lindsey was lucky enough to meet and speak with Williams a few times. He was like a celebrity on UNC’s campus and was beloved for his coaching style and success with the Tar Heels, accumulating three NCAA championship titles in 18 years.

When not watching or writing about sports, Lindsey enjoys reading, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with my friends, family and dog. She also likes to journal, watch movies and paint.

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Edited by Ruth John S