Azzi Fudd, an American college basketball player for the University of Connecticut Huskies, grew up in an athletic household where both of her parents played basketball.
Her father played at American University, and her mother was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in the 2001 WNBA draft. They are both supportive of their daughter’s athletic career.
Azzi was the first sophomore ever to win the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2019. She led her St. John’s College to the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) tournament title.
Although Maryland offered her a scholarship in sixth grade, she committed to UConn on November 11, 2020. She was a five-star recruit, and ESPN ranked her number one in the class of 2021.
Azzi was selected as the Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year and made her collegiate debut against Arkansas on November 21, 2021.
Despite being eligible for the WNBA draft, she announced her return to UConn for her final season on March 25, 2025.
Later, on April 6, 2025, she won her first national championship and earned Most Outstanding Player honors for her performance.
We as coaches felt like Azzi was the key to the tournament. We felt if she could have an Azzi-type game, didn’t have to be a 28-point game like the one in Carolina, that we would win. We kind of know what we’re going to get from Paige [Bueckers]. We kind of know what we’re going to get from Sarah [Strong]. So Azzi became the focal point for us of who has to step up tonight. And she did magnificently, obviously.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma
Azzi Fudd’s Mother Was The Foundation of Her Success
Katie Fudd was a standout player in her own right before she became known as the mother of basketball phenom Azzi Fudd.
Sadly, her career was cut short by an injury, and she laid the foundation for her daughter’s rise to stardom.
Katie began her collegiate career at North Carolina State and made an immediate impact, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 1997.
She was renowned for her sharp shooting and scoring ability. Later, she transferred to Georgetown and solidified her legacy as one of the program’s most outstanding players.
Katie had played 121 games, scored 2,072 career points, and shot an impressive 36.7% from three-point range. She remains the second all-time leading scorer in Georgetown women’s basketball history.
Moreover, the Sacramento Monarchs drafted her in 2001, making her the first player from Georgetown to be drafted into the WNBA.
However, her professional career was derailed by injuries, including a devastating torn ACL. Her injury forced her release before she could make her debut.
Despite this setback, her love for the game never wavered. After ending her playing days, she transitioned into coaching.
Come learn from the best so you can be your best. We value consistent work over time. Real teaching, real skills and real playing. Let’s get to work!
Katie Smrcka-Duffy
Katie’s influence on her daughter’s career has been profound, instilling in her the fundamentals of a strong work ethic and a love for the game. It made Azzi one of the most highly touted prospects in women’s basketball.
Meanwhile, Azzi grew up in a family where basketball was more than just a game, and it’s no surprise she inherited both their talent and their passion.
Although her career was shorter than she may have hoped, Katie’s legacy lives on through her daughter’s success.
Congrats, mom, for being inducted into the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame. #gsva #prouddaughter ❤️🏀🏅
Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd’s Parents Got Married In A Basketball Court
Azzi Fudd comes from a family where love and basketball go hand in hand.
Since the beginning, her parents, Katie and Tim Fudd, have been her most prominent supporters. The married couple’s romance recalls memories of a Love and Basketball fantasy.
Tim and Katie first met while coaching at The Potomac School, bonding over their shared passion for the game.
Their most unforgettable chapter of their romance is their wedding, which took place on a basketball court.
Katie grew up Catholic and had already been renting the St. Joseph’s Catholic School gym for basketball training. Later, they needed a venue quickly and thought about getting married in the school gym.
It was a steal of a deal, as it only cost them $35 an hour, and it was the perfect tribute to the sport that brought them together.
Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife!! 17 years have flown by in some respects. You continue to keep our family on track and without you we would be wandering aimlessly! I love how selfless you are and how determined you can be to make things right! Here’s to the next 17! May they be as joyous as the first 17! I love you!!
Tim Fudd
However, there was just one rule. No heels allowed on the hardwood.
Their wedding invitations famously requested: “To show support of this union, the bride and groom ask that you wear athletic shoes to the wedding.“
The court had been a place of love long before their wedding day, where they coached, bonded, and built a life together.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- 22-year-old Azzi Jazlyn Fudd was born on November 11, 2002, in Arlington, Virginia.
- Standing 1.80m tall, she plays the shooting guard position in the Big East Conference.
- She represented the United States and won gold medals at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women’s Americas Championship in Argentina.
- She is in a relationship with Paige Bueckers, an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.
