Azzi Fudd and the Connecticut Huskies are used to the spotlight. Entering the NCAA Tournament as the favorites to win it all, UConn went 34-0 in the regular season. This is the 11th time in program history that Connecticut has gone undefeated in regular-season play, all under head coach Geno Auriemma. The Huskies secured the No. 1 seed in the Big Dance after defeating the Villanova Wildcats 90-51 in the Big East Tournament final. Fudd had a team-leading 19 points on a team-leading 27 minutes played, while also tying KK Arnold for the team lead in steals with three.
Fudd is having her best season in Storrs, averaging a career high in points per game at 17.7, assists per game at 3.0, steals per game at 2.5, field goal percentage at 48.9% and 3-point percentage at 44.6%. The star senior leads the team in minutes per game and is second on the team in scoring behind star forward Sarah Strong.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
It has been a long, tough road for Fudd to arrive here. She came to Connecticut as the No. 1 overall recruit in 2021, one year after the arrival of the No.1 overall recruit in 2020, current Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers. Although the two were close friends and a dynamic duo off the court, they were often unable to similarly flourish on the court together due to a series of setbacks by Fudd.
Before even arriving on a college campus, Fudd was already dealing with injury issues, tearing her ACL and MCL in her right knee in 2019. Her freshman season at UConn was cut short due to a foot injury, missing 11 games. She missed 22 games her sophomore season after suffering right knee injury in a December 4th matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The injury issues hit a crescendo in her junior season when the guard suffered a season-ending ACL and medial meniscus tear in her right knee, only appearing in two games all year.
Fudd has turned her fortunes around, staying healthy and appearing in all 34 regular-season games the last two seasons. Now that the former No. 1 recruit has been able to eat on the court, the star guard has announced a new way to eat off the court. On Wednesday, before the start of the NCAA Tournament, Fudd took to social media to announce a new partnership with CAVA.
In a video posted on Instagram, Fudd sits down to share a personal story. "Well, honestly, I think I need to give credit where credit is due," she begins. "It's been a great season, an amazing college career, but yeah, if I'm being real, I don't think it would have been this amazing if I didn't have her by my side. I mean, don't, get me wrong. I have the best teammates, legendary coaches. But, she just gets me, ya know. She keeps me balanced, helps me feel confident, and she's always bringing the energy. She even got me this shirt! Honestly, I don't think I would be the same player without her. Just look at her! CAVA is her! Now, of course, I get my bowl with harissa honey chicken, Red Pepper hummus for smooth flavor, and tzatziki, or as I call it, Azziki. Get it. Can we break for lunch?"
"Shout out to my girl @cava for helping me feel good on and off the court." Fudd wrote on Instagram. "Check out my custom bowl on the CAVA app now 💛 #CAVAPartner".
"Azzi's Game Day Bowl" is now available as a meal at CAVA.
The Huskies will face the UTSA Roadrunners Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.
