STORRS – In the rafters of Gampel Pavilion hang banners, upon banners.
Banners from past National Championships, retired numbers from past players and the prestigious Huskies of Honor. With all the success from both programs, it can be a little daunting for a recruit to see all of those names.
For former University of Connecticut women’s basketball player, Azzi Fudd, it was.
On Sunday afternoon, Fudd recalled to the media what it felt like stepping foot in the Huskies’ practice gym and seeing all the names that donned those banners. From players like Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Gabby Williams; Fudd never expected to see her name up there.
That is, until Sunday afternoon, when Fudd received her very own banner in the rafters when she was inducted into the UConn Huskies of Honor.
After a five-year tenure for the Huskies, Fudd collected numerous accolades including being named the Most Outstanding Player for UConn’s 2025 National Championship.
Over her career, she amassed 1,687 points and 270 rebounds, while persevering through various injuries. There were times when Fudd never expected herself to get to this point.
“I think that doubt creeps in for any athlete, but especially when you go through an injury, get that doubt that kicks in. Like, ‘Will I make it back? Will I be a good player?” Fudd said to the media on Sunday. “All five years, we have been such a super special group, and I think being able to lean on each other and use each other as motivation and fuel, like regrowth.”
In April of 2026, Fudd was drafted No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings, but always looks back on her time at UConn fondly.
“They are involved in so many things, doing so many great things that the stuff they’re doing on the court […] that’s just a piece of it,” head coach Geno Auriemma said. “It’s like your own kids, you know, basically. You want them to be growing out in the real world.”
According to Fudd, if there’s one thing she wants to be remembered by is that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I hope [the new players] can look at my time and see how imperfect it was and have that as inspiration and motivation,” Fudd said to the media.
After Fudd greeted Auriemma to watch her number get unveiled, she made a speech to the crowd. However, in true Fudd fashion, she humbly noted the while the crowd may be there for her, they should be cheer for the game that was to come after.
Following being stunned by the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday evening, the No. 2 ranked Huskies came into Sunday’s game against the No. 10 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes looking for redemption.
With a 91-79 win over the Hawkeyes and a new career high in points for Sarah Strong, the Huskies achieved successful reclamation.
While it was a slow start for the Huskies as they worked to cut their deficit against Iowa in the beginning moments of the first frame. With Ava Heiden’s size and Chit-Chat Wright’s tenacity in the paint, the Huskies struggled to combat the Hawkeyes at first.
That is, until Blanca Quiñonez ran to the scorer’s table and checked into the game.
The combination of Quiñonez and Strong in the front court proved to be Iowa’s Achilles heel, with Strong reaching a new career high in points.
Strong finished the matchup with 39 points and 10 rebounds, smashing her previous career record of 29 against Ohio State. It just happened to be one of those dominant games for the North Carolina native.
“She forgot to pack it for Ann Arbor, but it was there today,” Auriemma said when asked about Strong’s edge. “Every one us, I think, probably needs a reminder, needs a little nudge that doesn’t happen by itself. You have to actively engage like that, and you have to create that mentality for yourself.”
With Jana El Alfy finding herself in foul trouble early in the game, Auriemma and the Huskies relied heavily on Strong, Quiñonez and Olivia Vukosa.
Quiñonez followed Strong in leading the team with 21 points, shooting 7-10 from the field and collecting three rebounds and four assists.
As the clock wound down in the first half, and Heiden was in foul trouble for Iowa, Strong beat the buzzer with a triple, setting the score at 52-37 heading into the half.
As the second half of the game commenced, Iowa worked tirelessly to cut their deficit, getting as close to 10 points with just over three minutes to go in the final frame.
Although the Huskies’ defense held steady, solidifying the win.
“I think we came back from the [Michigan] trip, and there was a lot of ‘I have to be better.’” Auriemma said. “All of these things are things that you have to be intentional about […] we have a long way to go with our defense.”
Connecticut will hit the road again this Thursday to take on the No. 18-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Husky fans can tune in to the matchup on FS1.