Is Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd Dating? What Most People Get Wrong

Look, if you’ve spent any time on sports TikTok or followed the UConn Huskies over the last few years, you’ve seen the edits. The slow-motion clips of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd laughing on the bench, the matching outfits, the "Pazzi" hashtags. For a long time, if you asked, is Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd dating, you’d get a chorus of "they’re just besties!" from one side and "it’s so obvious!" from the other.

Well, the "is she or isn't she" era is officially dead.

As of early 2026, we aren't speculating anymore. The two superstars have moved past the "cryptic social media post" phase and into a full-blown public relationship. It wasn't just one single moment that tipped the scales, but a series of very public "hard launches" that happened throughout 2025. Honestly, it's kinda wild looking back at how long they kept us guessing while they were winning titles in Storrs.

The July 2025 Confirmation Heard Round the World

The real turning point—the moment where the "just friends" defense finally crumbled—happened in July 2025. Paige Bueckers, who was already lighting it up as a rookie for the Dallas Wings after being the No. 1 overall pick, sat down for an interview with WAG Talk during the WNBA All-Star weekend.

The interviewer didn't hold back. They straight-up asked her about her "D1 girlfriend." Paige didn't dodge it. She didn't do the usual "we’re just focused on the season" athlete speak. She smiled, looked at the camera, and confirmed it: Azzi Fudd is her girlfriend.

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Before that verbal confirmation, the evidence was basically a mountain. Azzi had posted a mirror selfie where her phone case literally said "Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend." You can’t really "bestie" your way out of that one. Then there were the sightings of them holding hands at games and the matching "A" and "P" necklaces. It was a classic soft-launch turned hard-launch that the internet obsessed over for months.

A Timeline of How We Got Here

It's easy to forget these two have been in each other's orbits since they were basically kids. They didn't just meet at UConn.

• 2017: They meet at a USA Basketball U16 tryout. Azzi famously thought she’d have no problem beating "this white girl" (her words!) for the point guard spot. She was wrong. They became inseparable almost immediately.
• 2020: Paige heads to UConn and spends her entire freshman year publicly recruiting Azzi with the #GetAzziToUconn hashtag.
• 2021-2024: The "Best Friend" years. They navigated brutal injuries together—Paige’s ACL, Azzi’s knee issues. They lived together, rehabbed together, and TikTok-ed together.
• April 2025: Paige goes No. 1 to the Dallas Wings. Azzi is right there at her table, looking more like a partner than just a teammate.
• July 2025: The official confirmation.

Why This Relationship Actually Matters for the WNBA

Usually, who an athlete dates is just tabloid fodder. But with Paige and Azzi, it’s different. They are two of the biggest faces in women’s basketball. They represent a shift in how Gen Z athletes handle their private lives. They didn't hold a massive press conference; they just stopped hiding.

There’s also the professional angle. As we roll through the 2026 season, the Dallas Wings are in a fascinating spot. They hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Azzi Fudd, having finished her final year at UConn (where she reportedly won a national title alongside Paige in early '25), is a top prospect.

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The "Pazzi" fans are losing their minds over the possibility of a reunion. Imagine your franchise cornerstone and her girlfriend being the starting backcourt. It’s a marketing dream, but it also brings up real questions about team chemistry that scouts are actually discussing. Can you build a championship culture around a couple? In the WNBA, where community and identity are so baked into the league's DNA, the answer seems to be a resounding "why not?"

Addressing the Trolls and the "PR Stunt" Rumors

Of course, you can't have a high-profile relationship without people claiming it's all for "clout" or "NIL deals."

Some skeptics pointed to the timing of the reveal—right as Paige entered the pros—as a way to boost engagement. But anyone who has followed them since high school knows that’s garbage. You don't stay at someone’s house for the entirety of a global pandemic and wear their jersey number on a heart necklace just for "clout."

They’ve been each other’s rocks through the lowest points of their careers. When Paige was sitting on the bench in a knee brace, Azzi was the one keeping her spirits up. When Azzi was struggling to find her rhythm after her own injuries, Paige was her loudest cheerleader. That’s not a PR stunt; that’s a partnership.

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What’s Next for Paige and Azzi?

Right now, they are navigating the "long-distance" (well, Dallas to Connecticut) life as Azzi finishes up her commitments and Paige cements herself as the face of the WNBA.

If you’re looking for "actionable" ways to follow this story, keep an eye on the 2026 WNBA Draft lottery results. If Dallas keeps that top pick, the "Best Friend" duo becomes a pro duo, and the league’s jersey sales are going to absolutely skyrocket.

Key Takeaways for Fans:

• It’s Official: They confirmed the relationship in July 2025.
• The Phone Case: Yes, that viral "Paige Bueckers' Girlfriend" phone case was real and not a troll.
• Pro Future: There is a very real chance they reunite on the Dallas Wings in 2026.
• Privacy: While they are public now, they still keep the deep details of their daily lives relatively quiet, so don't expect a reality show anytime soon.

Stop wondering if they're dating—start wondering if the rest of the WNBA can handle them on the same court again.

Next Steps for You:
Follow the Dallas Wings' 2026 draft strategy closely. The front office's decision on whether to draft Azzi Fudd will tell you everything you need to know about how the league views "power couple" dynamics in a professional locker room. If they pull the trigger, expect a total shift in how the WNBA markets its stars.