When it comes to athletes with undeniable chemistry on and off the court, few duos have captured attention like Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.
From their early days at USA Basketball camps to now making headlines in the pros, fans have long speculated that their connection runs deeper than friendship.
And now, thanks to a behind-the-scenes peek from stylist Brittany Hampton, those rumors may be closer than ever to confirmation.
The story began years ago when Bueckers went out of her way to recruit Fudd to UConn – going so far as to create a highlight reel just to impress her parents.
Fast forward to today, and the bond is still as tight as ever. After UConn’s big win over South Carolina in April, Fudd was spotted traveling frequently to see Bueckers. One TikTok in particular stirred speculation: Fudd asked Paige, “How much was it?” and Paige replied, “$200,” prompting a deadpan reaction and Fudd‘s caption-“Princess treatment every time I’m with her.”
A viral draft night and a stylist’s inside scoop
Speculation ramped up during the 2025 WNBA Draft when Bueckers made a beeline to Fudd’s table before being picked. The now-viral moment included Bueckers warning Fudd, “I’m mic’ed up! I’m mic’ed up!” followed by a shared grin that fans couldn’t ignore. Brittany Hampton, the stylist for both athletes (as well as Cameron Brink), revealed that Paige wanted to be “iced out” in rhinestones.
“She knew she wanted rhinestones and just be iced out,” Hampton said. “I don’t want you to look like a boy, iced out in the draft. I need you to look like a rock star, and she did.”
But perhaps the most telling detail? Hampton confirmed that their looks were styled to match.
“We also know that like they were going together, right? We knew they had to be a duo no matter what because their images were going to go viral. It had to be cohesive,” Hampton added. “And then Fudd was like, ‘what should I do with my hair?’ And I was like, ‘you really wanna know. Part in the middle, buss down.’ We’re doing it and they ate it up.”
Later that night, Paige embraced Azzi with warmth and energy after being drafted first overall to the Dallas Wings, and fans began putting the pieces together faster than ever.
Paige’s subtle clues keep the internet guessing
There have been numerous moments since that night that fans have clung to for hints. Whether it’s Azzi wearing a heart necklace with Paige‘s jersey number, Paige showing up in Fudd’s No. 35 jersey and scoring 35 points, or the now-infamous phone case that read “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend,” the clues are everywhere.
Even though Paige dodged relationship questions in a February GQ interview by saying, “I’m more just focused on basketball,” fans remain unconvinced.
And who can blame them? From hoodie swaps and jersey tributes to shared TikToks and mirrored fashion choices, Bueckers and Fudd have given the internet plenty of reasons to believe there’s more going on than just a close friendship.
So, are they or aren’t they? The pair have yet to confirm anything directly, but for fans keeping tabs, the signs are hard to ignore – and growing louder by the day.
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