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Alexa Philippou
Various Writers
STORRS, Connecticut – Azzi Fudd, the standout player for UConn, ensured a memorable exit from Gampel Pavilion in her final appearance there.
Fudd, widely anticipated to be the top selection in the 2026 WNBA draft, poured in 26 of her record-equalling 34 points during the initial half. This performance propelled the top-seeded Huskies to their 32nd consecutive Sweet 16 berth, following a dominant 98-45 victory over ninth-seed Syracuse.
“It seemed like I entered a zone for a moment,” Fudd commented. “My teammates were consistently locating me and delivering excellent screens. … It felt like I was operating without conscious thought. Whenever I had an open look, my instinct was, ‘Alright, I’m going to take this shot.'”
UConn, currently just four victories shy of an unblemished season and successive national titles, has amassed 52 straight wins, marking the fifth-longest such run in Division I history. Their next challenge will be against the fourth-seeded North Carolina on Friday, vying for a place in the Elite Eight.
Fudd’s dominant performance occurred merely two days following a challenging personal beginning to the NCAA tournament: the veteran guard was sidelined for much of the first half versus UTSA due to accumulating three fouls in the opening quarter, ultimately scoring just seven points on 3-for-9 shooting.
During the interim between contests, coach Geno Auriemma aimed to divert Fudd’s attention from her shooting struggles, playfully proposing that she should shorten her fingernails.
“That’ll cheer up the ball, and it’ll favor you, leading to more successful attempts,” he quipped. Auriemma recounted, “Both she and Ice [Brady] stared at me as if I were insane, so I left, remarking, ‘Listen, I don’t truly buy it myself, but it’s worth an attempt.'”
Before Monday’s halftime locker room entry, Fudd disclosed to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, “Yes, I actually did it; I clipped them. I used a nail file yesterday prior to practice.” She added, “It appears [Auriemma] had a point; I needed to shorten my nails.”
Regardless of whether it was Auriemma’s counsel or a stroke of good fortune for a shooter, Fudd (who achieved 13-of-18 from the field, notably 8-of-11 from beyond the arc) and her Huskies teammates reaped the rewards.
Fudd’s offensive outburst in the second quarter, where she sank four of her eight triple-pointers that matched her personal best, ignited a 31-0 surge by the Huskies, electrifying the spectators. This scoring spree expanded their advantage to 65-12 by halftime, marking the second-greatest halftime lead ever recorded in NCAA tournament history.
“We displayed considerable focus, and we were highly synchronized as a unit,” Auriemma stated. “That was arguably the finest half of basketball, the best 20 minutes, I have witnessed from our squad in an extended period. This isn’t exclusive to this particular team; it has occurred previously, but this performance approaches perfection.”
UConn demonstrated excellence across both offensive and defensive aspects; their stifling defensive efforts generated numerous scoring chances, complemented by their selfless ball movement. Solely in the first half, they achieved a 66% shooting accuracy, tallying 20 assists on 27 successful field goals, alongside securing 13 steals and preventing the Orange from scoring for more than 10 minutes.
Typically meticulous in his pursuit of excellence, Auriemma found himself uncharacteristically quiet with his team during the halftime interval.
Junior guard Ashlynn Shade remarked, “It was rather amusing when [Auriemma] entered without any remarks.” She continued, “He sort of chuckled, and we responded with, ‘Alright!’ He simply said, ‘Fantastic half of basketball.'”
“When you possess exceptionally skilled athletes who are eager to collaborate and distribute the ball, such outcomes are possible,” Auriemma commented. “One can only admire what they achieve when entirely cohesive, as this level of synergy isn’t a frequent occurrence, or at least not as often as desired. However, witnessing that first half, I was aware I was observing something quite remarkable.”
This served as an optimal farewell for Fudd and her fellow senior Huskies teammates as they departed Storrs, shifting their focus towards Fort Worth, Texas, with the ultimate objective of celebrating a championship in Phoenix.
Fudd reflected, “Gampel has represented home for the past half-decade, and truly, when individuals claim no other venue measures up, it holds true.” She continued, “Every aspect of this location is extraordinary. Therefore, having the opportunity to perform here one final time, and secure such a fantastic team victory as we did this evening, nothing more could have been desired.”
Fudd, whose stat line also included five assists, four steals, and three rebounds, received excellent backing from sophomore sensation Sarah Strong (contributing 18 points and nine rebounds) and impressive freshman Blanca Quiñonez (with 18 points and four assists). Syracuse’s offensive efforts were paced by their leading scorer, Uche Izoje, who recorded 12 points.
