Azzi Fudd, the recently graduated guard from UConn Huskies, was among 14 college stars who signed name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with Unrivaled in July. Fudd played an instrumental role in UConn’s national championship victory over South Carolina last season. Praising the initiative led by Breanna Stewart, she shared her excitement about the Unrivaled deal and its impact on young athletes.
During an episode of her podcast “Fudd Around And Find Out,” Fudd, accompanied by Texas A&M forward Ashanti Plummer, discussed various topics including the ESPY awards, the WNBA All-Star game, and her experience with Unrivaled’s NIL program.
Highlights of the Unrivaled NIL Program and Player Experiences
Fudd described Unrivaled as a fast-paced, three-on-three professional league created by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. She expressed admiration for how the league’s inaugural season was managed, emphasizing its energetic atmosphere and strong organizational efforts.
“Unarrivaled is a professional three-on-three league that was started by Napheesa Collier and Brianna Stewart, who are both WNBA players. Super fast paced, it’s super fun,” Fudd said on Thursday (30:50), via “Fudd Around And Find Out.”
“I think they did such an incredible job this year of launching this league. I think no one really knew what to expect, and they kind of just blew it out of the water. I was so impressed by just how well everything was run. Everything looked organized and like put together. It looked like the players had a great time. Their social teams were killing it.”
Plummer, who attended Unrivaled’s events in Miami, echoed Fudd’s enthusiasm about the league’s unique appeal, noting the excitement of the three-on-three format and intimate fan experience compared to traditional league games.
“I mean, it was like you said, no one knew what to expect, and then you get down there and it’s incredible,” Plummer said.
“I mean, as you know, the product is always there; it’s different because it’s three-on-three, the court’s a little bit smaller, but it’s also exciting and fun and loud. It’s a little bit more intimate than, like, if you go to watch any of them play with their league teams.”
Paige Bueckers Acknowledges Azzi Fudd’s Influence on and off the Court
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, who was teammates with Fudd at UConn for four years, recently spoke about Fudd’s unique role in her basketball life. The two players made their friendship public in June, highlighting a bond that extends beyond gameplay.
“I usually get two, three, four, five shoes put together and then I actually call Azzi and have her help me pick them,” Bueckers said on June 26. “She has been doing a great job picking them. Yeah, Azzi is like my basketball shoe stylist.”
Though Fudd was projected as a likely first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, she chose to return to UConn to continue improving her game. In a March interview with ESPN, Fudd explained her decision to focus on refining her skills further before turning professional.
work on everything I need to work on.
Future Prospects for UConn and New Recruiting Efforts
Looking ahead, UConn secured just one key signing for the Class of 2025—a five-star combo guard named Kelis Fisher from IMG Academy in Florida. Fudd’s return and new recruits like Fisher signal that the Huskies are committed to maintaining a competitive edge in collegiate basketball.