Azzi Fudd: AP All-American & No. 1 WNBA Draft Pick 2026

Azzi Fudd is having her best season as a college basketball player, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. With UConn entering the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament as the undefeated No. 1 overall seed, Fudd has earned her first career All-American honors, drawn a major national profile, and cemented herself as the projected No. 1 pick in April's WNBA Draft. If you're searching her name right now, here's everything you need to know.

First Career All-American Honors — and Historic Company

On March 18, 2026, Azzi Fudd was named to the AP First Team All-America squad alongside her UConn teammate Sarah Strong — making them the first pair of Huskies teammates to both earn first-team recognition since 2020. One day later, on March 19, both players were also named USBWA First Team All-Americans.

For Fudd, the AP honor is her first All-American distinction of her college career, making her the 29th Husky ever to earn the recognition. That this milestone arrives in the same week that UConn tips off March Madness adds another layer of significance to an already remarkable stretch for the senior guard.

Strong, meanwhile, leads UConn with 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game and is widely considered the frontrunner for National Player of the Year. Together, they form arguably the most dangerous backcourt-frontcourt tandem in the country heading into the tournament.

Fudd's Career-Best Statistical Season

Numbers tell part of the story. Fudd is posting career-highs across the board in 2025-26:

• 17.7 points per game
• 48.9% shooting from the field
• 44.6% from three-point range
• 3.0 assists per game
• 2.5 steals per game
• 2.6 rebounds per game

Those figures put her among the elite perimeter players in college basketball. Her three-point shooting percentage in particular is exceptional — nearly 45% from deep is a mark that translates directly to the next level. For a player who battled injury setbacks earlier in her college career, this season represents a complete arrival as one of the game's most dangerous offensive weapons.

What makes the numbers even more impressive is the context: UConn does not play a soft schedule. The Huskies defeated St. John's in the Big East at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2026, and went on to win the Big East Tournament as part of a perfect 34-0 regular season. Fudd has delivered those numbers against the best competition the sport has to offer.

UConn at 34-0: The No. 1 Seed and Heavy Favorites to Win It All

UConn enters the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed with a perfect record. The Huskies are set to open tournament play hosting No. 16 seed UTSA — a matchup that is about as favorable a draw as a No. 1 seed can get. From there, the bracket opens up a path the program knows well: deep runs, high expectations, and the weight of history.

The oddsmakers agree that UConn is in a class of their own. DraftKings has the Huskies at -265 to win the national championship, a figure that reflects genuine dominance rather than just reputation. The next closest contenders are UCLA at +550 and Texas at +700 — both solid programs, but facing a significant gap in implied probability compared to the Huskies.

This isn't unfamiliar territory for Fudd. Last season, she won the NCAA Championship and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player — one of the sport's highest individual honors. She returns not only as a champion but as the player opponents most need to account for on the perimeter.

'Basketball's Princess': The SELF Magazine Profile and Fudd's Cultural Reach

On March 19, 2026 — the same day her USBWA honors were announced — SELF magazine published a cover feature on Fudd titled How Azzi Fudd Became Basketball's Princess. The profile is drawing wide attention and underscores something that goes beyond basketball: Fudd has become a genuine cultural figure in women's sports.

The "People's Princess" nickname was given to her by former UConn star and current WNBA player Paige Bueckers, and it stuck for good reason. Fudd has built a following of over one million social media followers and maintains an active TikTok presence that resonates with a younger fanbase. In an era when women's basketball is experiencing record viewership and cultural momentum, Fudd sits near the center of that wave.

Her ability to connect with fans off the court, combined with elite on-court performance, makes her one of the most marketable figures heading into the professional ranks — something that will matter enormously once she turns pro.

WNBA Draft Projection: No. 1 Overall Pick

Fudd is currently projected as the No. 1 overall pick in April's 2026 WNBA Draft. That projection is built on everything discussed above: elite shooting, defensive impact (2.5 steals per game), scoring versatility, and the intangibles of a player who has won at the highest level and performed under enormous pressure.

Her path to this point has been a story of resilience as much as talent. Fudd dealt with significant knee injuries during her time at UConn that interrupted what could have been even earlier peak seasons. The fact that she's now producing career-best numbers in her final collegiate campaign — with the stakes highest — speaks to both her physical recovery and her competitive maturity.

According to Athlon Sports, Fudd's pre-tournament announcements and honors have only heightened anticipation around what her professional career will look like. A WNBA franchise will be getting not just a top-tier scorer, but a player who has already won a national championship and thrived in the biggest moments.

The Fudd Family Basketball Legacy

Azzi Fudd's basketball roots run deep. Her mother, Katie Fudd, was herself a college basketball player — competing at both NC State and Georgetown — and was drafted into the WNBA. Basketball was never just a sport in the Fudd household; it was a family language.

Katie Fudd named her daughter after Jennifer Azzi, the '90s Olympic legend who won gold with the U.S. women's basketball team. That choice of name carries a kind of inherited ambition — a signal of what the family hoped and expected from a child who would grow up to fulfill that legacy in full.

Now, Azzi Fudd stands on the verge of continuing that thread into the professional game, potentially carrying the torch lit by her namesake into the modern era of women's basketball.

Frequently Asked Questions About Azzi Fudd

What All-American honors did Azzi Fudd receive in 2026?

Fudd was named a AP First Team All-American on March 18, 2026, and a USBWA First Team All-American on March 19, 2026. Both are her first All-American honors of her college career, making her the 29th Husky to earn the distinction. She shares the honors with UConn teammate Sarah Strong — the first Huskies teammates to both make the AP first team since 2020.

What are Azzi Fudd's stats this season?

Fudd is averaging career-highs of 17.7 points, 48.9% field goal shooting, 44.6% from three, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.6 rebounds per game in the 2025-26 season.

Is Azzi Fudd going to the WNBA?

Yes. Fudd is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the April 2026 WNBA Draft following her senior season at UConn.

Why is Azzi Fudd called the "People's Princess"?

The nickname was given to her by former UConn teammate and WNBA star Paige Bueckers. It reflects Fudd's popularity with fans, her social media presence of over one million followers, and her ability to connect with a broad audience beyond just basketball.

Did Azzi Fudd win the NCAA Championship?

Yes. Fudd won the NCAA Championship with UConn in the previous season and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament — one of the highest individual honors in the sport.

Looking Ahead: What to Watch in March Madness

As UConn opens the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament against No. 16 seed UTSA, Fudd will be one of the most closely watched players in the country. A back-to-back national title run, an undefeated season, and a dominant All-American campaign have all set the stage. The question isn't whether UConn is the favorite — at -265, the betting market has already answered that — but whether Fudd can close her college career the way it deserves: as a champion, again.

With career-best numbers, first-team All-American recognition, a SELF magazine cover, and the entire women's basketball world watching, Azzi Fudd is operating at the peak of her collegiate career at exactly the right moment. Whatever happens in March, her legacy at UConn — and her future in the WNBA — is already secure.