Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have a relationship that grew from years of friendship, basketball and being teammates. The two young stars have known each other since their USA Basketball days and later played together at UConn, where they shared one of the biggest achievements in college basketball.
For a long time, fans wondered whether their close friendship had developed into something more. That question was eventually answered in 2025, when Bueckers publicly acknowledged that Fudd was her girlfriend.
Since then, the pair have offered fans a few more glimpses into their relationship. Fudd has also spoken about Bueckers during interviews, including a recent appearance on the Good Game With Sarah Spain podcast.
During that conversation, Fudd revealed a funny detail about a nickname she has carried during her college career. According to Fudd, Bueckers was responsible for the comment that eventually led to her being called “The People’s Princess.”
Their story is not simply about a new romance. It is also about two elite basketball players who have shared important parts of their careers, from USA Basketball to UConn and eventually a national championship.
Who Is Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend?
Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend is Azzi Fudd, her former UConn teammate and fellow basketball star.
The two became teammates through USA Basketball in 2017 before eventually joining forces again at UConn.
Their college careers gave them years of experience together, both on and off the court. In 2025, they also helped UConn win the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship.
Bueckers later moved into the professional game after being selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Fudd remained at UConn as a senior, meaning the 2025-26 season represented a major change for the pair. For the first time in several years, they were no longer playing on the same college team.
Fudd admitted that it would feel strange not having Bueckers as her teammate.
That comment reflected just how long the two had been connected through basketball.
Azzi Fudd Talks About Her Relationship With Paige
Fudd recently discussed her relationship with Bueckers during an appearance on the Good Game With Sarah Spain podcast.
The conversation initially centered on business opportunities and potential brand partnerships. Spain asked Fudd whether she saw herself becoming a business mogul later in her career.
The discussion eventually moved to one of Fudd’s well-known nicknames.
Spain asked about “The People’s Princess,” a nickname Fudd has embraced during her time in college basketball.
Fudd explained that the nickname originated with Bueckers.
According to Fudd, Bueckers once made a comment suggesting that Fudd was the princess because UConn coach Geno Auriemma did not yell at her.
That comment eventually evolved into people calling Fudd “The People’s Princess.”
Fudd laughed while explaining the story and admitted that she was not exactly sure how the nickname developed from that point.
Still, she made one thing clear.
She does not mind the nickname.
How Paige Bueckers Gave Azzi Fudd Her Nickname
The nickname story offers a fun look at the friendship between the two athletes.
According to Fudd, it started with Bueckers making an observation during their time as teammates.
The idea was that Fudd had something of a special status because Auriemma did not yell at her during practice.
That comment eventually became a much bigger joke around Fudd’s public identity.
“The People’s Princess” became a nickname that followed her during her college career.
It is also an example of how small moments between teammates can become lasting parts of their public stories.
Bueckers may not have intended to create a nickname that would stick with Fudd for years, but that is effectively what happened.
For Fudd, the story is now another amusing connection between her basketball career and her girlfriend.
When Did Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Go Public?
The relationship became public in 2025 after months of speculation.
Fans had already been paying close attention to the pair because of their long friendship and close relationship as UConn teammates.
One of the biggest hints came in June 2025, when Fudd posted a selfie to her Instagram Stories.
In the picture, she was holding a phone with a case that read “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend.”
The playful phone case immediately attracted attention.
Because the two athletes had already been the subject of relationship speculation, fans quickly viewed the image as a significant clue.
The situation became even clearer later that summer when Bueckers openly referred to Fudd as her girlfriend during an interview with WAG Talk.
That moment gave fans a direct acknowledgment of their relationship.
Paige Bueckers Confirmed the Relationship
Bueckers’ WAG Talk interview became one of the most talked-about moments in the couple’s public relationship.
During the interview, Bueckers was asked questions about Fudd.
She correctly answered a series of details about her girlfriend, including information about Fudd’s high school, her Gatorade Player of the Year honor, her recruiting class ranking and her first collegiate start.
She also knew details about Fudd’s family basketball background, the player Fudd was named after and the award she received for her national championship performance.
The questions showed just how well Bueckers knows Fudd.
Then came the moment fans had been waiting for.
When asked for the girlfriend reveal, Bueckers answered with Fudd’s name.
It was a casual and playful moment, but it effectively confirmed their relationship to the public.
Their Relationship Grew From a Long Friendship
One reason fans have been especially interested in Bueckers and Fudd is that their relationship did not appear out of nowhere.
They have known each other for years.
Their basketball connection goes back to 2017, when they became teammates with USA Basketball.
They later reunited at UConn.
That meant they had already developed a significant friendship before their romantic relationship became public.
Their history also includes some of the most important moments of their basketball careers.
They played together at UConn, competed in the NCAA tournament and ultimately won the national championship together in 2025.
For fans who followed them through those years, their relationship has developed alongside their basketball journey.
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Won a National Championship Together
One of the biggest shared achievements in their story came during the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Bueckers and Fudd helped UConn win the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship.
The title gave them a special final chapter as college teammates.
Bueckers’ college career then came to an end as she moved into the WNBA.
Fudd continued at UConn for another season.
That created a new situation for the couple because they were no longer teammates.
Instead, they had to balance their relationship while pursuing different basketball schedules.
Fudd Says It Is Strange Not Having Bueckers as a Teammate
Fudd acknowledged that the change has been unusual.
After spending years playing alongside Bueckers, she said it would be weird not having her as a teammate during the new season.
The comment makes sense given how long their basketball connection has lasted.
They first played together through USA Basketball, then became college teammates at UConn.
Suddenly, Bueckers was beginning her professional career while Fudd remained in college.
Their basketball paths had started moving in different directions.
However, that did not mean their personal relationship ended.
Instead, they were entering a new stage where their relationship had to exist outside the same locker room.
Paige Bueckers Is Now a Dallas Wings Player
Bueckers entered the WNBA in 2025 after being selected first overall by the Dallas Wings.
The move marked a major transition in her basketball career.
After years at UConn, she was now competing professionally and adjusting to a new team, new schedule and a different level of competition.
At the same time, her relationship with Fudd remained part of her life.
The change in their basketball situations also gave the public a chance to see their relationship outside the college environment.
They were no longer simply two UConn teammates.
They were two athletes pursuing different stages of their careers while also dating.
Fudd Is Still at UConn
While Bueckers moved to the WNBA, Fudd remained at UConn as a senior.
That meant the two athletes had different basketball commitments.
Fudd continued playing college basketball while Bueckers began her professional career with Dallas.
The situation also gave Fudd more time to develop her own identity at UConn.
Although her relationship with Bueckers is now public, Fudd remains an accomplished basketball player in her own right.
Her college career includes a national championship and years of high-level competition.
The two can therefore support each other’s careers without being on the same roster.
They Have Shared Matching Outfits and Jewelry
Before publicly confirming their relationship, Bueckers and Fudd had already given fans several glimpses of their closeness.
They have shared pictures wearing matching outfits.
They have also been seen wearing necklaces featuring the letters “A” and “P.”
Those details attracted attention because of their initials.
They were also seen holding hands after a Wings game.
None of those individual moments provided the same direct confirmation as Bueckers’ interview, but together they contributed to the public interest surrounding the pair.
The couple’s relationship gradually became more visible instead of being announced through one large formal statement.
Fudd Plans to Bring Bueckers Onto Her Podcast
Fudd is also developing her own podcast, Fudd Around and Find Out.
During her conversation with Sarah Spain, she revealed that she plans to have Bueckers join her for an episode.
She joked that she has to use the cool people around her.
The idea is especially interesting because fans will get to hear the two basketball stars interact in a different setting.
They have spent years together as teammates, and now their relationship is public.
A podcast appearance could offer another casual look at their personalities and friendship.
Their Relationship Is Also a Basketball Story
The romance between Bueckers and Fudd is closely tied to their careers.
Basketball is how they first became connected, and it has remained a major part of their lives.
Their relationship began within a world of practices, games, tournaments and travel.
They have also experienced major career milestones together.
From USA Basketball to UConn, they have shared some of the biggest moments of their young careers.
Their national championship victory gave them a particularly memorable achievement to celebrate together.
Now their careers are taking different paths, but basketball remains the common thread.
What Makes Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd’s Story Interesting?
The appeal of their relationship comes partly from how long they have known each other.
Fans did not simply discover two celebrities who started dating.
Instead, they watched two young basketball players grow into stars, first as teammates and later as a couple.
Their friendship existed before the relationship became public.
Their basketball careers also developed side by side for years.
That history gives their relationship a different context.
There is a shared understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level, along with years of memories from playing together.
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Today
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are now navigating a new chapter.
Bueckers is playing professionally for the Dallas Wings after being selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Fudd is continuing her college career at UConn.
Although they are no longer teammates, their personal relationship continues.
Fudd has spoken openly about Bueckers in interviews, including the funny story behind her “The People’s Princess” nickname.
The story is a reminder of how far back their connection goes.
Bueckers’ joke during practice eventually became a nickname that followed Fudd throughout her college career.
Now the two can look back on those early teammate years while building separate careers.
Paige Bueckers Girlfriend: The Story Behind Azzi Fudd
For anyone searching for Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend, the answer is Azzi Fudd.
The two have known each other since their USA Basketball days in 2017 and later became teammates at UConn.
Their relationship eventually became romantic, and they went public in 2025 after months of fan speculation.
Fudd’s “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend” phone case provided one of the biggest early hints, while Bueckers later directly identified Fudd as her girlfriend during a WAG Talk interview.
Since then, Fudd has continued to share small details about their relationship and friendship.
Her recent discussion about the “People’s Princess” nickname was particularly fun because it showed how Bueckers’ influence on her life goes back to their days as teammates.
Now, even though Bueckers is playing for the Dallas Wings and Fudd remains at UConn, the two continue to support each other.
Their relationship has grown alongside their basketball careers, making their story one that connects friendship, college basketball, a national championship and a new professional chapter.