JUST IN:See Why UConn women’s basketball’s game at Georgetown is a homecoming Azzi Fudd’s family: ‘Full circle’…….
Katie and Tim Fudd were so excited for Azzi Fudd’s first homecoming as a member of UConn women’s basketball that they bought courtside seats to the Huskies’ game at Georgetown, Katie’s alma mater.
But the family, based in Arlington, V.A., never got to go.
The Jan. 5, 2022, game was canceled because the Huskies’ program was shut down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Fudds got a refund for their tickets and tried again the next year, Azzi’s sophomore season.
But after re-injuring her knee about four weeks before the game, the Fudds sat in the stands at McDonough Arena watching their daughter unavailable to play on the bench. And with Azzi’s November 2023 season-ending knee injury last season, the Fudds again watched Azzi sit out her homecoming game.
Each year we bought tickets, and each year she hasn’t played. So, this year I said, ‘I’m not buying tickets, and then she’ll play,’” Katie told CT Insider Friday morning.
The Fudds will finally celebrate their daughter in a homecoming-like game Saturday (4 p.m.) when the No. 7-ranked Huskies travel to Washington D.C. to play Georgetown at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. Fudd is not only healthy and a full-go despite a December knee injury, but she’s one of UConn’s most reliable players this week as Paige Bueckers is out with a left knee sprain.
“It will be really nice to see her play at home,” Katie said. “… I think at any point we’re seeing her play is beautiful, right? (Might) be a little nerve-racking for us, but it’s just wonderful to see her out there doing what she loves. So, wherever it is, you know, whether we’re in Omaha, Milwaukee here; it’s just wonderful to see her.”
The Fudds, who try to attend every one of UConn’s games throughout the season, estimate about 40 to 45 people (“at the minimum”) will be in the stands Saturday to cheer on Azzi, including family, friends and former teammates. Katie and Tim will be in the UConn family section since Azzi was able to get a handful of free family and friends tickets from UConn and her teammates.
“I’m very excited,” said Azzi, who grew up attending WNBA Washington Mystics games at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. “This will be my first time actually getting to play at Georgetown, or even just at home. I’ve been out for all of those, so I’m super excited to get to play with all my family and friends in the crowd. I played on that court actually in my high school state championship game. So, it’s kind of just like a cool little flashback moment, like full circle moment.”
While playing for UConn was always a dream for Azzi, the No. 1-ranked high school recruit in the Class of 2021, the family has always had ties to Georgetown because of Katie’s collegiate career.
Katie, then Smrcka-Duffy, played three seasons at Georgetown after her freshman year at NC State. With the Hoyas, Katie averaged 18.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals as a star guard from 1998 to 2001.
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