Paige Bueckers and Co. are going to the Bahamas! After UConn head coach Geno Auriemma became the winningest coach in college basketball history after defeating FDU, the Huskies are ready to face Oregon once again. So far, they are 2-0 in their all-time match-ups. Bueckers and the recently returned Azzi Fudd will look to extend their lead over the Ducks. The duo has recreated an old move from their previous appearance to start the Baha Mar championship strong.

In a recent post by UConn’s women’s basketball page, a video from 2021 shows Bueckers and Fudd with Caroline Ducharme in the middle facing the camera.“Welcome to the Bahamas!” the three say in harmony. Then Bueckers, standing on the right side, looks at her teammates and jumps to put her legs in their arms. Fudd catches her legs as Ducharme grabs her waist just in time, and No. 5 gives a peace sign with her left hand.

The video then fades into black and opens with the trio three years later in their dark blue jerseys instead of track jackets. The Huskies recreate the exact move with the exact words, all smiles, as Bueckers gives a thumbs up to the camera. Perhaps the best part of the video for Huskies fans is that One Direction’s Night Changes plays in the background for a heavy dose of nostalgia. What could be a better comeback for Azzi Fudd than the Baha Mar Women’s Championship?

The first round, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday night, will see the Huskies vs. the Beavers, the second game UConn will play in the Bahamas. According to the official UConn website, this game will be exactly 29 years since the teams’ first meeting on November 25, 1995.

Although Fudd was present in the game against Florida, when Auriemma won his honor, the Baha Mar will give her more opportunities to shine. But even Bueckers was impressed by the 5-foot-11 guard, who has spent more time away from the court than on it in her college career due to injury.

“I think she played very aggressive and it showed defensively, as well,” the redshirt senior said. “But just for her to be back out there having fun, regardless of how many points she scores, how many minutes she plays, we just really wanted to see her back out there and have her enjoy that moment. We’re all grateful that she’s back.”

It echoes the sentiment from her previous comments, in which ‘Paige Buckets’ said Fudd was Auriemma’s “princess” because of her flawless game. As for the head coach, he believes that Fudd makes the Huskies ‘whole.’

After Paige Bueckers’ successful return, Azzi Fudd is next

The injury bug bit the Huskies so badly that most returning freshmen from last year have first-hand on-court experience. But Paige Bueckers has returned in full force in what is likely her last season on the circuit. Expected to go to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Storrs will rely on Azzi Fudd to carry them through. As will Geno Auriemma.

 “Since her junior year in high school, she’s missed more basketball than she’s actually played. So I know how hard she’s worked. I know what it’s meant to her to come back,” the UConn head honcho said after the Florida game. “It’s going to be slow in the beginning but she changes our team. She makes us better. … I think Azzi makes us whole.”

The redshirt junior, who has been healing from a right knee injury after playing in just two games in the 2023-24 season, has played 42 games in her career. While she didn’t start the current season either, Azzi Fudd is back with Paige Bueckers and Co., ready to finally bring a championship back to Connecticut.