UConn guard Azi Fad gets 100% right to win amid Paige Bookers absence

UConn Women’s Basketball Guard Azi Fad was candid about her team’s win over Georgetown without Paige Bookers. The Arlington, Virginia native had a great homecoming game in the nation’s capital, scoring 21 points in the Huskies’ 73-55 victory. UConn women’s basketball has been hit with some adversity recently when its best player, Paige Bookers, suffered a terrible injury against Villanova a week ago. Fortunately, the head coach Geno AuriemmaThe Russian team will not be without its star for as long as is expected from the All-American soon to return from a sprained knee.

In a postgame interview with SNI’s Chelsea Sherrod, Fudd, who battled injuries throughout her college career, reflected on this emotional victory.

“Feel amazing.” Every game I get to play with my teammates while surrounded by extra family tonight is really special. Now I look at the crowd and think, ‘Wow.’ I haven’t seen some of these faces in so long, so it’s just a special moment. It probably wasn’t the cleanest, prettiest game we’ve played this year, but it shows how we stuck together and persevered. And we got the win, and that’s all that matters. Everyone’s been through this (for missing Paige Bookers), missing teammates. So I think just all of us stepping up and being tough, just all those little pieces adding up, if we keep building and building, we’re going to be pretty great.”

UConn will need all of its key players back to win another national title

With Paige Bookers on the mend, the Huskies shouldn’t rush to get their star back. UConn women’s basketball hits a manageable portion of its schedule against mostly Big East teams. With the pieces they currently have, the Huskies should be able to comfortably win their next six games. Geno Arriema’s team has visits to No. 16 Tennessee and No. 2 South Carolina in February, where it would be ideal for him to be fully healthy by then.

The legendary Huskies head coach is gunning for his twelfth national title. While UConn has made six Final Fours since Auriemma’s last championship, the program hasn’t won college basketball’s top prize since 2015-2016. This team has a long way to go, but they have the top talent to end this drought.

Women’s college basketball is as wide open as ever in 2025. UCLA is the current No. 1 team in the country, and while the Bruins have looked dominant thus far, they’ve never won a national championship in the sport. A program of UConn’s pedigree and experience is facing its first opportunity to hang another banner. However, this team will need to be fully healthy to accomplish this feat, which has been difficult for Geno Arriema’s team recently.