Uconn Guard Azzi Fudd remains undecided when explaining the WNBA design of 2025, her father told CT Insider on Friday. Fudd will participate in the senior day celebration of the team on Sunday before and after their matchup with Marquette in case, but she has an extra year of suitability and could return to school for the 2025-26 season.
“Her motto all year round is present in what is happening now,” Tim Fudd, the father of Azzi, told CT Insider. “… It is not a priority at the moment to concentrate on that when they get the chance to do really good things.
“It’s bittersweet for me. That’s probably the best word. … I think it is unfortunately, if this was the end, it is sad to say that Uconn probably did not see the best of Azzi and the best of her game is still to come, which is quite something, very great to see.”
Fudd, who was the number 1 recruit in the country when she was committed to UConn in 2020, was hindered by injuries during her time in Storrs.
She missed 11 games in her first -year season due to a stress reaction in her foot, while a knee injury cost her 22 games in her second season. Then, only two games in her junior campaign, she tore her ACL in practice and missed the rest of the season. Add a small knife to this season and Fudd has only played 66 games for the Huskies.
Because of her ACL injury, Fudd was able to take a medical red shirt for the 2023-24 season, which means that she has an extra year of suitability and could return to school. If Fudd, who has an average of 12.8 points per game and shoots a career-high 45.9% from 3-point range, decides to explain this year for the design, she is expected to be a pick of the first round.
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Ultimately, Fudd will have to weigh the potential risk and reward with each path.
Given her long injury history and she also tore her ACL and MCL in high school-it can be wise to become pro from the back of a solid season, especially if she gets a first round warranty. Returning to school and struggling or being injured can destroy her draft stock.
On the other hand, when Fudd returns to school, remains healthy and consistently shows the talent that made her the top recruit five years ago, she could be in the mix for a lottery selection. In addition, it is expected that a new collective negotiating agreement will be for the WNBA season of 2026, and it could bring higher salaries and more protection for rookies.
Anyway, Fudd will hope that she does not have to make a definitive decision for a while. Although the Wnba did not issue an official deadline for explaining the 2025 design, players did not have to compete in the elite eight of the NCAA tournament based on last year’s rules, while those whose team made at least the elite eight to 48 hours after their last games.
Fudd and Uconn, currently arranged no. 5 in the country, hope to compete in early April for an NCAA championship. The Huskies, which have a division I-record 11 national championships, have not canceled the trophy since 2016, which has been their longest drought since they won their first title in 1995.
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