Paige Bueckers and AzzinFudd of the UConn Huskies.

The UConn Huskies’ Paige Bueckers is close to all of her teammates but she is particularly close to Azzi Fudd, the Huskies guard who suffered an ACL tear and medical meniscal gears a few weeks into last season.

In an interview with WSLAM in 2021, the two discussed a previous injury sustained by Fudd. Azzi said that Bueckers helped her heal from her injuries by checking up on her. Paige Bueckers then opened up about her close bond with her teammate.

“I always confided in her. I used to keep everything to myself. I used to go through all the hard times in my life by myself. So, just being able to open up to her and being that person she can open up to as well was really important for me,” said Buckers in the interview. (Starting at 3:32)

Azzi Fudd once gave a peek into her friendship with Paige Bueckers

The UConn teammates have been each other’s support systems for years now. They have a long history of being together as close friends, first meeting five years ago during a USA basketball camp and competing against each other for the position of shooting guard.

A fun clip from “Overtime” gave a sneak peek into Bueckers and Fudd’s friendship. The latter had said:

“Even though Paige is my best friend, she is one of the most annoying people ever,” Fudd said. “She’s like a thousand siblings. Our friendship is very up and down, we fight a lot. With Paige, everything turns into a competition, it can be absolutely anything.”

“I know how to get under her skin, talk a little trash. Off the court, we joke a lot.” Bueckers replied.

In the same video, Fudd admitted that ahead of underestimated Bueckers when the two competed for the same position as shooting guard during the camp. But the two eventually formed a special bond that ended Bueckers convincing Fudd to join the UConn Huskies.

Bueckers will return to play her fifth season for the Huskies and with Fudd.