UConn guard Azzi Fudd playfully exposed her teammate and Huskies superstar Paige Bueckers' first meal for the day. On Thursday, Fudd posted on social media showing Bueckers carrying her breakfast of powdered donuts, a snack bar, a meat snack and water.
The photo, shared by Fudd in her Instagram story, was captioned:
"Woke up at 7am, first meal of the day... "it's carbs and protein" - @paigebueckers."
UConn has been dominant in the nonconference rounds of the 2024-25 women's college basketball season. The Huskies are 10-2 and are ranked No. 7 in the AP poll.
Paige Bueckers, whose NIL value is worth $1.5 million (per On3), has shot a career-high 56.3% from the field, including 41.7% from the 3-point line this season, giving WNBA scouts a sneak peek of what they'll be getting on the six-foot guard once she finishes her NCAA stint.
Meanwhile, Azzi Fudd appeared in six games this season for the Geno Auriemma-coached squad since coming off a knee injury that sidelined her for one season. She has started in two games and tallied 8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.7 apg.
UConn star Paige Bueckers gets criticized for her lack of aggressiveness in the loss to USC
UConn star Paige Bueckers had a good game in its marquee nonconference matchup against USC on Saturday. She led the Huskies' offense with 22 points, on 9 of 22 shooting (including 2 of 8 from the 3-point line).
However, her production didn't translate to a UConn victory, as they succumbed to USC, 72-70. They lost for the second time in 12 games, relegating them to No. 7 in the AP Women's Basketball Poll from No. 4 the previous week.
Former UConn player and three-time national champion Maria Conlon didn't let Bueckers' performance pass, delivering a scathing remark on the December 24 episode of the "Husky Hoops" podcast.
Conlon criticized Bueckers for not being aggressive against the Trojans and allowing freshman Sarah Strong to take over the game which she was supposedly doing as the senior player of the Huskies.
"I mean, (Bueckers) made some decently big shots the other day, but... the last two and a half minutes of the game, Sarah Strong wanted the ball and took over and did what we needed her to do on both ends," Conlon said (per Sports Illustrated).
She even compared Bueckers to former UConn great Diana Taurasi, who Conlon feels would aggressively drive the ball to the lane if she had the ball instead of kicking it out to an open teammate for a lower-percentage shot.
"Sarah Strong misses the last free throw, Paige gets the rebound. Now, if you're Paige... if this is Diana Taurasi and she gets that rebound, is there any scenario on this planet where she kicks it out to Barbara Turner at the top of the key," Conlon added.
UConn (10-2, 1-0 in Big East) will continue its defense of the Big East Conference title when it faces Providence on Sunday at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. The Friars hold a 7-7 record and 0-1 in the conference.
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