Huskies faced a major blow recently as they fell to USC in the highly anticipated Paige Bueckers vs. JuJu Watkins showdown. But, not to forget, it’s only their second loss of the season, so there’s still plenty to look forward to. UConn is now gearing up to face Providence in their final game of 2024, looking to avoid any more slip-ups. And guess what? There’s good news coming out of the Huskies’ camp that’s sure to lift spirits.

Azzi Fudd is finally making her return. After a rough stretch, where a knee injury kept her sidelined last season (we all remember the heartache of her missing nearly the entire year) and spraining the same knee last week, she’s looking better. Coach Geno Auriemma shared the positive news, confirming Fudd will be playing tomorrow, and she will be in the starting lineup!

This setback came after the senior re-injured that right knee during a game against Louisville on December 7th. There was a funny update where they mentioned, “No game-day braids for Azzi, but she’s not in sweats, so I’m calling that a win!” Honestly, after seeing her in sweats before, this is definitely a good sign.

Before today’s update, Coach Auriemma also shared last Tuesday that Fudd would be considered day-to-day from this point on. The team wants to be extra cautious with her recovery, especially on that knee that gave her so much trouble last year. She missed some big games, including ones against Notre Dame and USC, and we all saw how that affected the team. 

On the other hand, Aubrey Griffin’s return will take a bit more time. Although there’s been no setback in her recovery from last season’s ACL tear, Coach Auriemma mentioned she won’t be back until mid-January at the earliest. They’re making sure she’s 100% before bringing her back. So, while UConn gets Fudd back, they’ll still have to wait a little longer for Griffin to return.

Previously, the HC talked about how she has been taking part in controlled, simulated games. She even stepped it up and joined a more intense session. “It was like a real game, no holds barred,” the coach said.

“It didn’t take long—just about 20 minutes—but she looked like her old self more than at any time since the surgery.” So, we can say that she will return in full form. But for now, we look forward to Geno’s perfect player’s return.

UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma calls Azzi Fudd the ‘perfect basketball player’

We know that Auriemma has worked with some of the best basketball players in NCAA history, including WNBA legends like Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and more. When he speaks about a player, it’s worth listening to because he’s seen the full spectrum of talent. So, when he calls Azzi Fudd the “perfect basketball player,” you know that’s saying something!

In a recent chat on the UConn Radio Network from the iHeart Dunkin’ Music Lounge in Hartford, Auriemma took a moment to sing Fudd’s praises. “That’s why it’s crazy that all this stuff keeps happening to her. But she’s just so incredibly well put together for a basketball player,” Auriemma said. “Like, if you were going to build like the perfect basketball player, that’s what it would look like.”

 Auriemma emphasized that Fudd’s skill set is a rare combination of talent, toughness, and intelligence. The coach continued, giving advice on how they’ve been working with Fudd on the court. “So we encourage her every time she touches the ball to force the action.”

With such high praise, it’s clear that when the guard is on the court, she’s an unstoppable force. We’re all hoping for a season free of injuries for her, as the UConn Huskies will be even stronger with her back in action.