Azzi Fudd may not have been on the court Monday night, but she still managed to make headlines during the Dallas Wings‘ 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty.
The UConn star, who helped guide the Huskies to their first national championship since 2016, was in Dallas to cheer on her former teammate and now girlfriend Paige Bueckers.
The two have become one of basketball’s most-watched young couples. After Fudd jokingly referred to herself as “Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend” in a viral social media post earlier this summer, the pair officially made their relationship public during the WNBA All-Star weekend.
Monday’s game marked another memorable moment for the couple, thanks to a thoughtful and eye-catching gesture from Fudd.
A custom shirt and a big night for Bueckers
Fudd‘s courtside outfit drew immediate attention. She wore a custom shirt with the message “I [blue heart emoji] PB,” the heart featuring Bueckers‘ signature No. 5. The statement was subtle but personal, a clear show of support for the Dallas rookie.
Whether coincidence or good karma, the shirt seemed to bring luck. Bueckers delivered a standout performance, dropping 20 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists to help the Wings hand the defending champion Liberty a rare loss.
Cameras frequently caught Fudd smiling and applauding throughout the game, turning the courtside moment into a highlight of its own.
A connection on and off the court
From sharing a national title at UConn to now navigating life between the NCAA and the WNBA, Fudd and Bueckers have quickly become a favorite story in women’s basketball. Fans have embraced their relationship, celebrating the way they openly support each other’s careers.
Fudd will return to Storrs soon to prepare for another season with the Huskies, but her appearance in Dallas was a reminder of the bond that stretches far beyond the court.
With Bueckers thriving in her rookie campaign and Fudd cementing her own legacy in college hoops, the duo is poised to remain at the center of both sports and pop culture conversations for years to come.
Bueckers and Fudd first crossed paths as teenagers chasing a dream. The two met while trying out for a USA Basketball team at a summer camp, a moment Fudd recently reflected on with a mix of humor and honesty.
“I watched her play and I was like, ‘Oh, I have nothing to worry about this girl,'” Fudd said with a laugh according to The UConn Blog. “Like, ‘I have a better chance of making it than her.'”
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