We are three games into the Connecticut women’s basketball season, and sophomore Azzi Fudd is playing outstanding. On Sunday’s 91-69 win over N.C State, Fudd scored 32 points matching her career high.
The sophomore scored 22 of her 32 points in the first half against N.C State. She shot 12-24 from the field and 6-14 from three-point land. Fudd played outstanding and was a big reason why UConn won.
Hot Start
In the Huskies season opener, Fudd scored 26 points while adding four assists and six steals. She only shot 1-9 from three, but 9-17 from the field against Northeastern. Fudd followed that performance with a career-high 32 points on 13-21 shooting. Fudd also shot 4-7 from beyond the arc in a big game against Texas.
So far this season, Fudd is doing a little bit of everything, unlike last year when she was primarily used to shoot threes. Now, Fudd is driving to the basket, hitting mid-range shots, and hitting outside jumpers.
“I mean, I would think everybody knew that,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “But if they didn’t know, that’s the way she played in high school. She didn’t just stand in one spot and fire up 3’s. She scores a lot of different ways. I was happy to see her be so aggressive with the ball. There’s going to be a lot of games where, for whatever reason, the ball doesn’t go in. And you need to figure out a way to put points on the board.”
With Paige Bueckers put for the season a lot is being asked of Fudd this season. “She goes, ‘That’s a lot, coach … but it’s not something I can’t handle,'” Auriemma said. “Well, she’s starting to find out now it’s going to be a b—- to handle that. But if you’re as good as she is, you live for those moments, right?”.
After three games this season, Azzi Fudd is averaging 30 points per game on 54% shooting from the field and 37% from three-point land. It will be interesting to see if Fudd can keep up this outstanding play; if so, she should be in the running for National Player of the Year.
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