There has been speculation for years that basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are more than just besties. Fans have analyzed press conferences and video footage of the pair together, read between the lines of interviews, and become more excited with every social media post that seemed to confirm the women being in a sapphic relationship. But it wasn’t until a sneaky mirror selfie that their relationship was made Instagram official.
And while the two young athletes have yet to make a public announcement that they are dating, they have a rich history of on-court chemistry, supporting each other through injuries, celebrating victories together, and clearly having fun sparking rumors on social media. Oh, and Fudd's phone case literally says they are girlfriends. So, ya know.
Regardless of their relationship status, the girlfriends — and yes, we mean that in the dating sense, not the BFF way — have been joined at the hip for years, inspiring endless fan speculation that has now been all but confirmed. Everyone loves a good friends-to-lovers romance!
2017: They meet for the first time
The start of Bueckers and Fudd’s relationship was a little rocky, with Fudd thinking that her future GF was no match for her skills. The two met in 2017 when they were still in high school and both trying out for the USA National Team. “I watched her play and I was like, ‘Oh, I have nothing to worry about this girl,’” Fudd recalled. “Like, ‘I have a better chance of making it than her.’”
But they both ended up making the team, and Fudd even began visiting Bueckers in Washington, D.C., so the pair could work out together, and thus began the start of a friendship…and possibly more…that has captured the public’s attention for years.
2019: Fudd got injured and Bueckers was there to support her
Injured UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (left) and UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers look on as the team warms up prior to the women's college basketball game between Villanova Wildcats and UConn Huskies on January 29, 2023.M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesIn 2019, Fudd tore her ACL and Bueckers raced to her side, sent her a bouquet after her surgery, and supported her through her recovery.
“Through that whole thing, she came and visited me before my surgery. After surgery, she was the first one to call. She was always texting me, checking up on me, and making sure that my spirits were high throughout the whole thing,” Fudd told Slam Magazine.
November 2020: Bueckers makes sure they play on the same college team
In 2019, Bueckers committed to the University of Connecticut, but didn’t want to leave her best friend behind, so she set her sights on making sure they both ended up at the same school. Bueckers started a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #GetAzziToUConn and even made a sweet video to convince Fudd’s family that UConn was where she belonged.
“She actually made this one video on Hudl of her high school highlights of her passing to people and she showed it to my family,” Fudd said. “Like she sat down, airdropped it to the TV and said, ‘This is what I’ll be doing to Azzi. All the passes will come to her if she comes to UConn next year, she’ll get all these open shots.’ I’m just shaking my head, my parents are laughing. But it was a Paige moment.”
The tactic worked, and on Fudd's 18th birthday on November 11, 2020, the two women finally got the chance to play on the same team again when Fudd committed to UConn.
2021 - 2025: Their UConn era
Both women ended up tearing their ACLs, which cost them two years of playing together at UConn, but for Bueckers last season at the university, the lovebirds finally got to walk out on that court together.
The pair frequently had to do press together, which is when fans clocked their undeniable chemistry and eye contact that many interpreted as flirty.
November 2021: Slam Magazine cover
While playing together at UConn, Bueckers and Fudd graced the cover of Slam Magazine together and did a full in-depth interview about their friendship and partnership on the court.
“It was a dream to play here, not even knowing what the future would hold—who I would play with, who I would play against,” Bueckers said of her relationship with Fudd. “Just me wanting to come here for school and to be able to do it with my best friend, it makes it so much better.”
April 2025: They won a national championship together
After missing so much playing time together and going three years without taking home the Natty, the star athletes finally won the NCAA National Championship during Bueckers' last season with UConn.
"I think a lot of us, our mindset is like, yes, we really want to win a national championship," Fudd said to ESPN. "But I think most of us on the team are like, we want to do it for Paige. We've seen everything she's been through and everything that she does for us. ... We want to reciprocate that and do anything for her, and we know how badly she wants it."
And the two sparked more relationship rumors when they hugged each other after winning the championship game.
April 14, 2025: They attend the WNBA draft together
Paige Bueckers hugs Uconn teammate Azzi Fudd after being selected with the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.
Elsa/Getty Images
All eyes were on Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA draft, and Fudd appeared right alongside her, walking the orange carpet together. Fans speculated that this was a way for them to soft-launch their relationship since no other players had “friends” sitting with them at their table, but neither woman confirmed they were dating. Bueckers ended up as the first overall draft pick by the Dallas Wings, and when it was announced, the first person Bueckers hugged was Fudd.
May 24, 2025: Princess Treatment TikTok video
After years of fan speculation and rumors, fans felt like they were finally getting some confirmation that the pair’s relationship went beyond friendship when Fudd posted a TikTok video playing off of a viral trend and captioned, “Princess treatment every time I'm with her,” implying that Bueckers spoils her when they are together.
Needless to say, lesbians across social media were in a frenzy after this post went viral.
June 21, 2025: Did they hard launch their relationship with a phone case?
Footage still via Instagram @azzi35
On June 21, Fudd posted a clever mirror selfie that was as close to an official relationship announcement that we’ve gotten so far.
Fudd posted the photo on her Instagram stories of getting her hair done and showing off her new cell phone case that read, “Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend.” Do they really need to be any clearer than that?
While neither of the women has publicly come out as LGBTQ+ or officially announced their relationship in the press, fans interpreted this as the pair hard launching their relationship now that Bueckers is out of college and playing professional ball.
