UConn star Azzi Fudd opened up about her emotions when girlfriend Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards returned to practice this week
Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers faced off in a UConn practice this week(Image: Getty Images)
Azzi Fudd admitted it was “bittersweet” to share the court once more with her girlfriend, Paige Bueckers.
Earlier this week, Bueckers and fellow WNBA player Aaliyah Edwards returned to their former school to take part in a UConn women’s basketball practice session. The pair enjoyed considerable success during their time together in Storrs, leading the Huskies on several impressive tournament runs and Final Four appearances.
For Fudd – who may soon find herself playing alongside Bueckers professionally depending on how the WNBA Draft Lottery unfolds – the reunion with her former teammates stirred up conflicting feelings. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said.
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“I feel like for the people who played with them, having them back, it’s like that bittersweet [feeling]. It’s like, ‘Aw, we miss you guys. We miss having you here.’ But it’s a lot of fun to have them back.
“Just the energy they bring, and obviously they make the red team a lot better when they’re playing. And it’s more of a challenge for us, so it gives us better competition, different things to look at.”, reports the Mirror US.
However, it seems not everyone was delighted to see Bueckers back in the UConn practice facility. Speaking to the media following Saturday’s practice, head coach Geno Auriemma jokingly compared the Dallas Wings guard to Dennis the Menace – a troublemaking blonde youngster from a late-1900s sitcom who causes chaos in his neighborhood.
“It was great to see Aaliyah. It was great to see Aaliyah, because we hadn’t seen her in a while, and she looks fantastic,” Auriemma said.
“I mean, it was great to have her here. The other one is just having Dennis the Menace back on campus.”
Aaliyah Edwards, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd played together for several seasons at UConn(Image: Getty Images)
Despite no longer being UConn players, Auriemma emphasized that Bueckers and Edwards seamlessly returned to form during practice sessions. “You know what’s funny is, there’s just a different vibe,” he noted.
“Even today, there’s just a different vibe when [Bueckers and Edwards are] there.
“It’s great to reminisce about a lot of things. It’s great to see that they haven’t changed much, and yet, it’s great to see how different they are, just in the short time that they’ve been away.”
Bueckers especially demonstrated she remains unchanged since turning professional, with Auriemma observing that the 24 year old continues to be among the most vocal trash talkers on the court.
“Would you be surprised if I said that every time Paige scores in practice, she has to remind everybody, ‘I’m in the W now! You can’t guard me now!’ Okay, great,” he joked.
“So yeah, it’s just a different vibe. Yeah, it’s fun. It’s fun.
“‘I’ve always enjoyed our former players coming back, because it’s fun to remember who they were, and it’s fun to see what they are now.”