“The way he moves out the ball, I think is incredible.” Those were the words of Azzi Fudd as she praised Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry for his signature off-ball movement. When asked by her partner, Paige Bueckers, the UConn guard even named Curry as her favorite player. And it seldom happens that you get the chance to meet your favorite athletes. But when you are Azzi Fudd, there’s an exception.

For more than a decade, Stephen Curry has built the Curry Brand into a global magnet. And no market has embraced it louder than China. The Curry 12 shattered expectations with a 40 percent sales spike over its predecessor. Analysts credit the surge to his deep-rooted bond with Chinese fans. Curry, never one to take that support for granted, doubled down this summer. He returned once again to the country that fuels his brand’s fire.

As a part of his Curry Brand World Tour, the 4x champion made his first stop of China in Chongqing. And needless to say, it was a success beyond measure. “If this is how the trip starts, we’re in for something unforgettable,” he had expressed. Joining him on the tour?  His brother, Seth Curry, and fellow Curry Camp member, Fudd.

After completing the launch, Steph took to X to show his regards to the fans, which earned a special message from the UConn Huskies player. “So grateful for this amazing opportunity!! #CurryCon,” Fudd penned down, after getting a chance to spend time with Curry.

The admiration between the two basketball stars runs both ways. Curry’s love and respect for Azzi Fudd is well-documented, as he has praised the UConn guard on multiple occasions, even in his postgame pressers. At one such conference, Curry wore Fudd’s No. 35 UConn jersey and said, “The women’s game is nice to see in person, and I couldn’t see Azzi [Fudd’s] play at UConn, but it’s her birthday and the start of the season. I want to shout her out.”

Their connection deepened in 2021 when Fudd became the first-ever college athlete to sign an NIL deal with Under Armour’s Curry Brand, just 17 days after making her collegiate debut. Reflecting on that partnership, Fudd said in March, “Steph has been such an amazing resource. It kind of just goes to show the kind of person he is.” So when De’Aaron Fox was unable to join this year’s Curry Brand World Tour, it felt only natural that the next spot went to the Huskies star, Azzi Fudd.

Why did Steph Curry invite Azzi Fudd to Curry Camp?

Originally, the plan was for De’Aaron Fox to join Curry on the trip. The Curry Brand’s newest signee was set to stand alongside the 37-year-old superstar in Chongqing. But earlier in July, the Spurs guard announced he would miss the event while recovering. His absence, however, left room for a different kind of headline. Curry was instead joined by UConn’s star guard Azzi Fudd.

“Bringing Curry Camp to Asia is about more than basketball. It’s about inspiring the next generation,” Curry said with intention as clear as day. And inspire, he did. For the first time in history, Curry Camp touched down in Asia, paired with the debut of Curry Con. A handpicked roster of rising hoopers not only sharpened their games under Curry and his elite coaches but also absorbed lessons on leadership and resilience.

Chongqing itself transformed into a living tribute: walls covered in Curry Brand graffiti, subways wrapped in Under Armour logos, rooftops dotted with giant yellow balloons spelling his name. At night, a drone show lit the sky, creating the sight of a basketball swishing through a hoop in his honor.

The trip also served as the launchpad for the World Tour edition of his Curry Series 7 shoes and the official unveiling of Curry Con. Yet, even amid the spectacle, the moment that stole the spotlight came on the hardwood: in a three-point contest, 22-year-old grad student Azzi Fudd coolly hit four of five shots, edging past the 16-year league veteran himself, who sank three of five.