The UConn Huskies are coming to this season with a lot of positives from last year, but there’s one reality check: no Paige Bueckers this time. “It’s definitely going to be different, but it’s going to be great,” said Azzi Fudd in August, when discussing what it would be like to play a college season without Paige Bueckers. Besides Bueckers, star starters like Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin won’t be suiting up this year. While many find it hard to give it to the Huskies again, two analysts have faith in Azzi Fudd and Co.

On a recent episode of the Listen Up podcast, hosts Phil and Ry weighed in on the UConn Huskies following their top spot in the AP preseason women’s basketball rankings. While Phil did note that being ranked number one doesn’t always mean a team is truly the best, Ry was quick to highlight that it’s difficult for any team in any sport to hold that position all season long (still can, it is just hard). But the heat kicks in more for those defending a national championship, especially amid roster changes, and it is the Huskies now.

“For UConn, we lost three pretty big players. Obviously, the first one, being Paige Bueckers, is the biggest loss, but also Kaitlyn Chen & Aubrey Griffin. All three players got drafted,” said Ry. However, he added that “UConn had enough talent to fill those voids. Obviously, very talented sophomores, juniors, seniors, all the way down the line for returning players.”

The AP Poll saw the UConn Huskies receiving 27 first-place votes from a 31-member national media panel. Behind them are the South Carolina Gamecocks, the runner-up from last season. The other two teams making the top four were also a part of last season’s Final Four during March Madness: the UCLA Bruins and the Texas Longhorns. In light of this, the poll might not be taken too seriously. Then again, if UConn is listening to what the analysts said, the Huskies still have a squad that can go deep in the championship.

Ry also pointed out that, “plus going out and getting Serah Williams and Kayleigh Heckel in the portal will turn out to be, in my opinion, the perfect moves, once again, for this team. They’re going to be the missing pieces to the puzzle to have a really good chance to go out and go back-to-back this year.”

But last season, the duo of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd helped the Huskies. They collaborated for four years to elevate the UConn Huskies and ultimately won a championship in 2025. At the same time, they became more than teammates. However, with Bueckers now making waves, Fudd won’t have her girlfriend to lead the team now. Fortunately, she can easily step in as the team’s top backcourt option.

Last season saw the shooting guard recording 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over the course of 34 games, in which she started in 30. She was efficient with her shots, as she averaged 5.1-10.9 (47.4%) field goals, 2.3-5.3 (43.6%) 3-pointers, and 1.0-1.1 (91.7%) free throws. Though Fudd may not have Paige Bueckers, she will have the support of sophomore Sarah Strong.

Across 40 games, she averaged 16.4 points, along with 8.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season, by averaging 58.6% from the field, 38.8% from deep, and 74.0% from the free-throw line. She joins Maya Moore as the only freshman in UConn history to score more than 600 points in a season. She also scored the most rebounds and had the second-most assists by a freshman. With a star duo like that, hope exists.

“I don’t really expect this UConn team to lose too many games this year,” Ry added. “Maybe one or two. So, I think the Huskies will stay at number one for most, if not the entire regular season.” So, Azzi Fudd better make the best use of this upcoming season. After all, there is a good chance she could be heading to the WNBA next season. If she does, then there is a good chance she won’t be close to her former UConn connection.

Will Azzi Fudd be drafted to a different team than Paige Bueckers?

How Azzi Fudd performs in the upcoming season will decide what draft number she gets. The Dallas Wings finished tied for the worst record in the WNBA this season, as they went 10-34. This means that, once again, they might secure the top odds for the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, but that alone will not make the cut.

Azzi Fudd also needs to make a memorable impression to be on the same team as her girlfriend and be a part of history where two UConn icons and partners unite in the WNBA. However, Azzi Fudd will have to go a long way to make an impression, since the odds currently don’t favor her going #1. A few hours ago, Bleacher Report’s Rachel Galligan released a report containing a mock draft for 2026. According to it, UCLA Center Lauren Betts is projected to be the 1st overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Meanwhile, Azzi Fudd is projected to be the 4th overall pick. This means that she would be heading to the Washington Mystics! In a way, heading to the Mystics could be an advantage for Azzi Fudd. It holds an advantage from a team-building perspective, since rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen reportedly look like real building blocks this season. Additionally, the team will also have Georgia Amoore coming back from injury.

“There is a real possibility Azzi Fudd climbs draft boards in the coming months,” Galligan writes. “She averaged 17.5 points per game while shooting nearly 44 percent from beyond the arc during last year’s NCAA tournament. Her ability to stretch the floor and score in bunches gives the Mystics the kind of perimeter weapon and additional backcourt talent to keep their rebuild trending in the right direction.”

Well, if she can climb the draft board to 4, she can do it to 1, too. Therefore, the UConn squad better give Fudd the edge she needs.