Former UConn teammates Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd went public with their relationship in July 2025
Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Paige Bueckers confirmed that she is dating Azzi Fudd in July 2025
- The two basketball players became close friends while representing the United States in a 2017 tournament
- Both Bueckers and Fudd played basketball at the University of Connecticut
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's relationship on — and off — the court is as sweet as it gets.
The powerhouse basketball stars were friends and teammates at the University of Connecticut for years before confirming their relationship in July 2025. Fudd, who helped lead the Huskies to win the NCAA National Championship in 2025, said their personalities balance each other out.
"She’s more outgoing; I'm quieter," she told Glamour in August 2025. "She’s a little more feisty; I’m a little more calm and even-keeled."
Fudd continued, "But I feel like we’re not naturally opposites in those things. I feel like we know what the other person needs in moments, and we adapt to make sure we can be there for them or balance them."
The couple played together at UConn for four seasons before Bueckers was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA in 2025.
Though they've kept their romance low-key, Fudd has been spotted courtside at her girlfriend's games, including during the Unrivaled semifinals in March 2026.
Here's everything to know about Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd's relationship.
They met at tryouts for the USA Women’s Under-16 National Team
Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty
Fudd and Bueckers met as teens when they both tried out for the USA Women’s Under-16 National Team in 2017, which they both made and won gold. They remained friends for years, even playing together in the 2018 FIBA Women's Championships.
In October 2017, Fudd posted a photo of her and Bueckers from their time at the 2017 FIBA Championship and wished her a happy birthday.
"Happy birthday to the coldest piece out there #bigtime 🙊❄️🏀🍇," she captioned the Instagram post. "I love you so much and miss you like crazy. Thanks for being my best friend😆🤗💗 Caint wait to see you soon … enjoy being 16 #gocrazy."
Fudd and Bueckers both played at the University of Connecticut
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While Fudd was in high school, she said Bueckers encouraged her to commit to the University of Connecticut. They played together for four seasons, remaining close friends and supporting each other as both dealt with injuries.
"Paige is the kind of teammate that everyone wants to play with because she’s so selfless," Fudd told Glamour. "The way she plays, she gets everyone involved. She’s also just a great player, so she attracts so much attention that it makes it easier for everyone else to get good looks and opportunities on the court."
Bueckers graduated from UConn in May 2024 and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings.
“We all get to share this moment with our seniors, with Paige, and so I'm super excited for her,” Fudd told PEOPLE at the WNBA Draft in April 2025. “Super excited for all the draftees, but super excited to be here."
Bueckers confirmed their relationship in July 2025
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In July 2025, Bueckers confirmed that she and Fudd were in a relationship. Bueckers participated in an interview with WAG Talk when she was asked about her "D1 girlfriend."
After Bueckers answered several correct questions about Fudd, the WAG Talk interviewer asked, "Girlfriend reveal it's…"
Bueckers replied, "Azzi Fudd."
She shared the update after months of speculation that the pair's relationship had turned romantic. In June 2025, Fudd went viral after she posted a selfie on her Instagram Stories that showed her holding her phone with a case that read, "Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend."
The two have also shared pictures of each other wearing matching outfits and "A" and "P" necklaces. Before confirming their relationship, they were seen holding hands at a July 2025 Wings game.
They've joked about playing against each other in the WNBA
Credit: Azzi Fudd/Instagram
Though Fudd told Glamour that she would "definitely" love to play on the same team as Bueckers again in the WNBA, she wouldn't mind playing against her either.
"I think it's kind of a win-win," the UConn star added.
When asked what tricks she would use against her girlfriend, Fudd said she would "mess with her" — though she's not 100% sure it would work.
"When you talk trash to her or mess with her, she gets in another zone and then there’s no stopping her," she said. "So I don't know what I would do."
In a November 2025 interview with Glamour, Bueckers joked that Fudd was "really not that good at talking trash," so she wasn't worried.
"I would mess with her, and then she’d get annoyed and irritated," she added. "We haven’t played against each other since high school, so I really don’t know how that will go."
Azzi called Paige her "favorite WNBA player"
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In August 2025, the former teammates put their chemistry on display during a joint interview for Close Friends Only with Instagram, where they quizzed each other on their favorite WNBA players.
“Probably Paige Bueckers,” Fudd said, prompting Bueckers to laugh and say, “I was about to say, mind you, I’m in the WNBA now.”
When Fudd turned the question back on her, she joked that Bueckers wasn’t allowed to pick herself.
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