Geno Auriemma has been one of the most popular names when it comes to college basketball. It is under his coaching that stars like Paige Bueckers have blossomed.
And now, following Bueckers’ entry into the WNBA, the upcoming 2026 WNBA draft will see yet another UConn Huskies star make her debut. And that is none other than Bueckers’ girlfriend, Azzi Fudd.
Fudd has already been making headlines with her adorable messages to Bueckers. However, the common question that has been asked is why Fudd did not enter the WNBA along with Bueckers? Well, after some significant speculations, the 22-year-old has finally spilled the beans on the matter.
What Did Geno Auriemma Say To Azzi Fudd That Delayed Her WNBA Debut?
There has been an air of curiosity over Fudd’s inclusion in the WNBA. And while most fans thought that she would make her debut in 2025, that was not the case. Reflecting on the matter, the Huskies’ star stated that her coach, Auriemma, asked her to exhaust her fifth year of college basketball eligibility.
And while the 22-year-old has been riddled with injuries in her NCAA career, Auriemma’s insight could very well turn out to be beneficial for the Huskies star. “You’d be doing yourself a disservice, whatever team in the W a disservice, like they wouldn’t know the player they’re really getting. It’s like you owe it to yourself to have a full season of playing Azzi Fudd basketball and reaching your full potential at UConn,’ and, I agreed,” Fudd stated.
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And quite frankly, the decision turned out to be pure gold. Staying with the Huskies, Fudd and her team won the NCAA title this year, getting the better of the 2024 champions, South Carolina Gamecocks.
And that’s not all. The 22-year-old also earned the honor of being the MOP with averages of 17.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. Meanwhile, Fudd is not the only athlete that Auriemma has been guiding. He recently spoke on how Bueckers should have more say in the Dallas Wings.
Geno Auriemma Wants Dallas Wings To Give More Importance To Paige Bueckers
The Dallas Wings finished last this year in the WNBA. And as expected, the Wings immediately cut off their head coach, Chris Koclanes. Now, while trying to find a perfect match, Sandy Brondello’s name emerged as the Wings’ probable head coach initially.
Looking at the tumultuous situation back in Dallas, Auriemma stated that the front office must allow more flexibility to Bueckers in choosing her coach.
“And it’s like recruiting. Recruit the person you want who has the qualities. But at the end of the day, whoever the coach is, you can make it work for them, or you can make it not work for them, provided there’s a good roster around you. So I think the roster is gonna be more important than the coach, even though the coach is crucial, obviously,” Auriemma said.
Thus, it looks like coach Geno is having some star players coming into the WNBA. And while Bueckers is already a star, it remains to be seen how well Fudd performs.