UConn's Azzi Fudd out for season with torn ACL, meniscus - ESPN

UConn guard Azzi Fudd will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season after suffering ACL and medial meniscal tears in her right knee, the team announced Wednesday.

Fudd suffered the noncontact injury last week in practice when, according to coach Geno Auriemma, she went up for a shot and afterward remarked that it felt funny. She missed No. 6 UConn's past two games against Maryland and Minnesota, both wins, watching from the bench.

«We're all just so upset for Azzi,» Auriemma said in a statement. «She worked hard to be healthy for this season, and it's unfortunate when you put in a lot of hard work and have a setback like this. Azzi loves the game and works tirelessly. I'm confident she'll rehab with the same work ethic and come back better than ever. We'll obviously miss her presence on the court, but Azzi will continue to be a great teammate and important part of this team this season. Our program will support Azzi through her recovery however we can.»

Fudd, a junior, will have surgery at UConn Health at a later date, the school said.

Although she would be age-eligible for the WNBA draft next year, Fudd told ESPN's Rebecca Lobo before she was injured that she planned to return to UConn for the 2024-25 season.

The tears are the latest injury for the No. 1 recruit from the Class of 2021 and former Gatorade National Player of the Year. She missed 11 games as a freshman because of foot issues before being sidelined for all but 15 games her sophomore season because of right knee injuries. Fudd returned in time for the postseason, where the Huskies were upset in the Sweet 16, snapping their streak of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances.

Fudd tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee in April 2019.

She is the second UConn