Some players come back to college basketball to chase another ring. But Azzi Fudd? She’s coming back to chase freedom. The UConn star guard, who led the Huskies to their record-extending national championship and dropped 24 points in the title game, is entering her final season with a whole new mindset. After being named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player and securing her place among UConn greats, you’d think she’d be out of things to prove. But that’s the thing about Azzi Fudd,  she’s never played for validation. She’s playing for herself now, as she recently revealed.

In her recent SLAM Online feature, titled “Shining Moment,” Azzi Fudd gave fans a glimpse we rarely see. The sharpshooter who once carried the weight of expectations now wants to carry joy instead as the season is about to start. “This year, I really want to embrace, not being in the spotlight, but being me and not caring about what other people think,” she said. That’s a big shift for someone who’s lived under the brightest lights. Last season, she averaged 13.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, shooting an impressive 47.4% from the field. She’s been UConn’s quiet assassin, always laser-focused, always composed. But now, she’s letting herself feel the game again. And honestly, that might make her more dangerous than ever.

“I want the word ‘embarrassed’ out of my vocabulary. I want to be proud of everything I do…want to do everything with confidence and with passion.” For a player whose focus has always been her superpower, that kind of vulnerability is rare. Because now, she’s not just chasing another title, she’s chasing peace of mind. “This is my last year,” she added. “I really want to enjoy and have fun. I want to appreciate every single thing. The hard, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful… all of it.” You can almost sense what this season means to her. With 12 national titles, dozens of WNBA players, and a legacy that defines women’s basketball, UConn’s banners and trophies speak for themselves. This year, however, is personal for Azzi.

Azzi Fudd decided to skip the 2025 WNBA Draft, just to return for her final run in Storrs. The Huskies open their 2025-26 regular season on November 4, 2025, against Louisville at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.  And when Azzi Fudd takes the court that night, it won’t just be another game. It will mark the beginning of her last chapter. However, this season will put her loyalty to the ultimate test more than any other.

Azzi Fudd Steps Into the Role UConn Has Been Waiting For

The reigning champions are back, and they’re protecting their heritage this time around. When UConn plays No. 20 Louisville to start the 2025-26 season, the Huskies will play without Paige Bueckers for the first time in a long time. But Azzi Fudd will be taking over that leadership role. Surrounded by up-and-coming celebrities like Sarah Strong, Ice Brady, Serah Williams, and KK Arnold, Fudd is well aware of the significance of this moment. “Everything about this year is going to be a challenge. I knew that going in,” she said. “I’m excited about what else I can add, what else I can learn. Whether that’s specifically on the court with my ball handling, bringing the ball up, or it’s leadership. I think this year has been all about embracing the hard.”

If there’s one thing Azzi Fudd has never shied away from, it’s the hard stuff. Long before UConn, she tore her ACL and MCL at 16, just weeks after becoming the first sophomore to ever win Gatorade Player of the Year. A pandemic, nine months of treatment, and a postponed senior season could have crushed her. Rather, they strengthened her backbone. She has become more resilient with each setback. And now, she is currently coaching a team that is attempting to repeat as national champions, something UConn hasn’t done in a decade.

The University of Connecticut Huskies’ head coach, Geno Auriemma, is aware of how important that objective is.  “(players are) bored during the season…They forget what a road it was to get to that point,” he said. “We got to remind them of that and not be too cocky going into the season, but confident.” The Huskies have new faces and fresh energy, but the heart of this team beats through Fudd.

For Azzi Fudd, this final season isn’t just another chase for banners; it’s a chance to rediscover the love that started it all. After years of battling injuries, expectations, and comparisons, she’s finally rewriting her own narrative on her own terms. Whether UConn repeats or not, Fudd’s legacy is already cemented not just as one of the best shooters to ever wear the Husky blue, but as an athlete who chose joy over pressure, growth over glory. And when she takes the floor this November, every shot, every smile, and every moment will be hers fully, freely, and finally.