Sue Bird, a woman who practically defines basketball royalty, has an eye for spotting greatness—and, unfortunately, a knack for spotting misfortune too. The four-time WNBA champion and UConn legend didn’t hold back as she gave her candid take on Azzi Fudd’s latest brush with the injury bug.
On the Dec. 11 episode of her podcast A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe, Bird served up a courtside recount of the UConn sharpshooter’s knee scare during the Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn. And let’s just say, her storytelling was as precise as her jump shot.
“At one point, she got bumped,” Bird said, dissecting the play like a basketball surgeon (24:50 timestamp, for the curious fans). “I saw the play happen. She kind of either got a little bumped on her knee or just stepped funny. What I saw was her drop to the floor—not dramatically, but just kind of go down. And then there was a little bit of fear in her eyes.”
Fear in Azzi’s eyes? Understandable. Let’s face it, Fudd’s knees have been through more drama than a reality TV show.
Azzi Fudd vs. The Injury Curse
If knees could talk, Azzi Fudd’s would probably scream “Enough already!” This isn’t her first tango with trouble. Back in April 2019, she suffered a brutal ACL and MCL tear at the USA Basketball U18 3×3 tournament. Since then, her relationship with injuries has been less of a one-off and more of a recurring subscription service.
Fast forward to her UConn career: 47 games played. That’s it. Last season? Just two games before another ACL tear during practice sent her back to the sidelines. Now, barely a month into her return, Fudd’s knees are once again the headline act.
Sue Bird: Tough Love and High Praise
Despite the ominous signs, Bird wasn’t entirely grim about Fudd’s performance. In fact, she was downright impressed. “She looked great,” Bird admitted, like a proud alum who refuses to let a bad day at the office define her protégée.
And the stats back up Bird’s optimism. Before the Louisville game, Fudd had been averaging 14.3 points on a blistering 63% shooting in her last three outings. Her 37.5% accuracy from deep proves that she’s not just a hype train but a locomotive capable of delivering big-time plays.
But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room—or rather, the knee brace on the court. With her recent injury scare, Fudd has been sidelined for the week, leaving fans (and probably her knees) holding their breath.
What’s Next for Azzi Fudd?
Let’s be honest: UConn fans have had their fair share of heartbreak in recent years, and Fudd’s health has been a constant cliffhanger in their soap opera of a season. With her immense potential and Sue Bird-certified stamp of approval, Fudd has all the tools to become the next big thing in women’s basketball—if only her knees would cooperate.
As for Sue Bird, her observations were spot-on (no surprises there). The only thing missing? A pep talk for Fudd’s knees. Maybe Bird and Rapinoe can dedicate an episode of A Touch More to motivational speeches for body parts.
In the end, Fudd’s resilience is inspiring, her talent undeniable, and her injury history downright frustrating. The basketball world is watching, hoping that this UConn star can finally have her moment to shine—on two healthy legs. Until then, we’ll keep holding our collective breath, one knee scare at a time.
