Despite the Huskies celebrating a decisive victory, there are concerns about one of their star players once again. Azzi Fudd made her much-anticipated return from an ACL injury, but it appears she is facing new challenges. Fudd, still not at her best, encountered another setback in just her fourth game back—this time, dealing with a stomach issue.
Coach Geno Auriemma revealed that Fudd’s status remained uncertain up until game time as they needed to closely monitor her health. “Azzi’s been experiencing some stomach issues yesterday and today,” Auriemma said. “It was a game-time decision whether she would play at all, so we were carefully managing her minutes.”
Fudd played 18 minutes, scoring 7 points and grabbing one rebound, returning to limited minutes just as she was beginning to increase her playing time after her injury.
Nonetheless, Auriemma remains hopeful, noting that this situation allowed other players to log more minutes. Despite Fudd’s difficulties, UConn still achieved a convincing 88-52 victory over Holy Cross, with freshman Sarah Strong stepping up to score 22 points.
She shot an impressive 9-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, with all her points coming in the second and third quarters. Additionally, Strong recorded seven rebounds and two steals. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Chen contributed a season-high 14 points and provided seven assists.
Paige Bueckers once again demonstrated her reliability, finishing the game with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. While the first half was a bit sluggish, UConn rebounded strong in the second half, outscoring the Crusaders 55-25 with an impressive shooting percentage of 64.7%.
The Huskies capitalized on turnovers, scoring 29 points from them, and showcased excellent ball movement with 27 assists on 35 made field goals. Off the bench, KK Arnold and Morgan Cheli each contributed 8 points, leading to a comprehensive and impressive victory for UConn. However, the potential absence of Azzi Fudd in upcoming games due to stomach issues, as highlighted by the Huskies’ head coach during the postgame press conference, raises significant concerns for the team.
On a brighter note, could her condition be mild? Before this game, Coach Auriemma expressed optimism about Fudd’s return to the starting lineup, generating excitement among fans as her playing time has steadily increased.
When asked if Azzi Fudd might return to the starting lineup, Coach Geno Auriemma responded cryptically with a wink, saying, “I think that’s a good assumption.”
This suggests she may be close to earning a starting spot, though it may not be currently in the team’s plans. Meanwhile, the potential 2025 WNBA draft prospect has shown consistent improvement since her season debut on November 20. Though she didn’t start in this game, her minutes on the court have been gradually increasing.
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