UConn women's basketball star Azzi Fudd is not expected to miss a significant amount of time with her knee injury. However, Fudd is not expected to play on Thursday against Notre Dame, head coach Geno Auriemma announced via Alexa Philippou of ESPN. Still, Fudd's minor knee sprain could have been a lot worse, so UConn is hopeful she can return soon.
Azzi Fudd hoping to return from injury soon
Fudd has endured injury concerns over the past few seasons. She is hoping to bounce back from this latest injury and remain healthy for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. When healthy, Fudd is one of the best players in all of women's college basketball.
UConn will continue to closely monitor her status over the next week. If she avoids any setbacks, Fudd could return soon. The team will provide updates as they are made available.
UConn preparing for big Notre Dame game
UConn women's basketball will enter Thursday's clash ranked No. 2 overall. The Notre Dame women's basketball team, meanwhile, is ranked No. 8 overall. Notre Dame has endured some difficult defeats, but they have the potential to make a championship run this season.
UConn holds an 8-0 record so far in the 2024-25 campaign while Notre Dame is 7-2.
Paige Bueckers leads UConn with 18.9 points per game. She is averaging 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals per outing as well. Bueckers is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
She has received help from her teammates, however. Sarah Strong is second on the team with her 16.3 points per game average. Strong is also recording a team leading 7.6 rebounds per outing to go along with 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Fudd has been limited to only five games as she was recovering from an injury to begin the season, but she is still third on the team with 10 points per game.
For Notre Dame, Hannah Hidalgo has led the way with 24.6 points per game. Hidalgo is also averaging 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.1 steals per outing. Bueckers and Hidalgo are considered by many to be the two best players at the women's college basketball level right now.
Olivia Miles' 17.2 points per game ranks second for Notre Dame, while Liatu King leads the team with 11 rebounds per outing.
When is the UConn vs. Notre Dame game?
Barring unforeseen circumstances, UConn women's basketball will be without Azzi Fudd against Notre Dame. Nevertheless, they will do everything they can to remain undefeated despite her expected absence.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM EST on Thursday night.