Azzi Fudd Doesn’t Want to Be Like Paige Bueckers in UConn Locker Room

Azzi Fudd Doesn’t Want to Be Like Paige Bueckers in UConn Locker Room originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

As Azzi Fudd enters her senior year at UConn, the pressure to lead is unmistakable, but the Washington, D.C. native doesn’t intend to copy the blueprint set by those who came before her.

With stars like Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl having graduated, Fudd is now expected to take on the mantle of leadership. Yet, she’s made it clear that her version of leading won’t resemble theirs.

In a recent interview with CT Insider, Fudd addressed her growth and the challenges of filling a leadership vacuum in one of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball.

Her approach: find her voice rather than replicating the intensity or volume of her predecessors. “I'm not gonna be like how Paige was a leader, how Nika was as a leader,” Fudd said. “I'm not gonna be super loud. I don't think that's in me to be like that.”

UConn’s Identity Was Shaped by Bueckers and Muhl

UConn has long been defined by its commanding personalities, who set the tone both on and off the court. Paige Bueckers, the 6-foot guard from Minnesota, became the face of the program as a freshman in 2020-21, leading the Huskies to a Final Four and earning National Player of the Year honors.

Her presence in the locker room was as impactful as her stat lines, which included a 20.0 points per game average during that breakout season.

Winning the national championship has completely changed Fudd's life, both on and off the court. https://t.co/KSBfrtlko5

— CT Insider (@insider_ct) July 31, 2025

Muhl, known for her intensity and vocal leadership, started 86 games in her career and finished as the program’s all-time leader in single-season assists. Together, Bueckers and Muhl created a culture of accountability and competitiveness that elevated teammates through both vocal leadership and elite playmaking.

Their departures leave a void in UConn’s internal ecosystem, one that Fudd now has to fill without trying to mirror what they brought.

Azzi Fudd Embracing Challenge of Leading Her Own Way

Fudd’s path has been defined by both potential and setbacks. Once ranked No. 1 in her recruiting class, she’s dealt with multiple significant injuries that limited her availability over the last three seasons. Now healthy, she’s poised to become UConn’s offensive centerpiece and emotional leader, though on her own terms.

“I don't think I see it as pressure on me. I see it more as a challenge,” Fudd said. She’s aware that expectations are high, especially with Geno Auriemma’s program hungry for its first national championship since 2016.

But her focus is internal: building trust, being present, and finding her leadership voice without trying to mimic someone else. “To find who Azzi is as a leader, that’s gonna be my challenge.”

With a fresh opportunity ahead, Fudd's version of leadership will be tested in how she balances expectation with authenticity in the Huskies' pursuit of another championship run.

Related: Former Storm Player Sends Blunt Message About Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Relationship

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.