UConn women’s basketball news: Geno Auriemma drops Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers truth bomb amid 2026-27 season

UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma acknowledged how fortunate the Huskies were to have Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers after Fudd returned to campus for her induction into the Huskies of Honor.

Fudd was recognized Nov. 8 at Gampel Pavilion ahead of UConn’s top-10 matchup against Iowa. Her visit prompted Auriemma to reflect on the years the program spent with two of its most prominent players.

“It was like a reminder of how lucky we were and how good we had it,” Auriemma said of Fudd’s visit, as reported by Alexa Philippou of ESPN. “Sometimes we took it for granted.”

The 2026-27 season is Geno Auriemma’s first in seven years without Azzi Fudd or fellow backcourt star Paige Bueckers. @alexaphilippou with the inside scoop: https://t.co/OSAASaKblg pic.twitter.com/waKydMydq7

— espnW (@espnW) November 13, 2026

The 2026-27 season is UConn’s first in seven years without either Fudd or Bueckers, who arrived as consecutive No. 1 recruits and eventually became No. 1 WNBA draft picks. Together, they helped lead the Huskies to the 2025 national championship, establishing themselves as central figures in the program’s success during the decade.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Fudd’s former teammates formed a tunnel as she walked toward midcourt. Auriemma greeted her with a hug and presented her with a ceremonial jacket.

Their absence has also created a different challenge for UConn, which entered the season ranked No. 2 nationally after returning 10 players from a team that went undefeated before losing to South Carolina in last season’s Final Four.

Among those returners is reigning national player of the year Sarah Strong, who has assumed a larger leadership role following the departures of Bueckers and Fudd.

Auriemma has acknowledged the pressure facing Strong as she adjusts to becoming the Huskies’ primary star.

The Huskies’ transition has not been entirely smooth. UConn opened the season 3-1, including a 77-66 loss to Michigan on Nov. 5 that Auriemma described as the program’s worst performance in more than two decades.

However, Strong responded with 39 points against Iowa, setting a program record for points scored against a top-10 opponent.

UConn also bounced back with a victory over Ohio State, although Auriemma has emphasized that UConn still needs to establish its identity.

“We’ve got to find ourselves a little bit,” Auriemma said.

The Huskies face a demanding upcoming schedule that includes matchups against Louisville, South Carolina and Duke as they continue adjusting to life without Bueckers and Fudd.