When WNBA rookie Paige Bueckers teased her girlfriend, Azzi Fudd, over a ceremonial first pitch, it wasn’t just playful banter-it was another moment that captured the heart of their relationship: affectionate, competitive, and refreshingly authentic.
Fudd, a former UConn star and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, threw out the first pitch at Nationals Park before a game between the Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds.
She got the ball across the plate-a win compared to some legendary blunders in baseball’s ceremonial pitch history. But it was the reaction off the field that caught attention.
Bueckers reposted the video to her Instagram Story with a sly comment-“Hmm 8/10… I’ll take it.”
It was a light jab, sure, but also a symbol of the ease and humor that defines their bond.
From college teammates to power couple
Long before they shared cute Instagram posts and side-by-side red carpet looks, Bueckers and Fudd were building chemistry at UConn and beyond.
Their basketball connection began years earlier on Team USA’s U16 squad and grew stronger throughout their college careers. After winning a national championship together in April, their off-court relationship followed suit.
The couple publicly confirmed their romance during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend after years of fan speculation. Bueckers playfully revealed Fudd as her partner during a viral segment on “WAG Talk,” answering trivia questions about her mystery girlfriend before finally naming Fudd.
Since going public, the two have openly embraced life as a couple-attending events together, wearing matching necklaces, and even sharing subtle but sweet messages online. In June, eagle-eyed fans noticed Fudd‘s phone case labeled “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend,” a wink that thrilled the internet.
Their visibility matters beyond basketball. Their story, as Vogue put it, serves as “a hopeful and affirming queer love story in women’s sports”-one that challenges norms and gives fans, especially LGBTQ+ youth, something to connect with.
Back at Nationals Park, Fudd‘s pitch wasn’t just a one-off PR moment-it was another example of her natural presence under pressure. And maybe she brought a little luck too: the Nationals edged out the Reds in a 10-8 victory that night.
While the pitch itself earned a teasing “8 out of 10” from Bueckers, it’s clear the score was never the point. These two athletes are showing what it means to support, challenge, and celebrate one another-on national stages and private sidelines alike.
From All-Star highlights (where Bueckers drained the first-ever four-point shot in the WNBA’s big game) to light-hearted social media roasts, their relationship continues to capture attention.
But beneath the headlines and highlight reels is a real connection-playful, proud, and thriving.
As Bueckers herself joked after accidentally revealing the relationship: “I didn’t even mean for that to happen.” And yet, here they are-winning in more ways than one.
Read the full article here
