With sophomore guard Azzi Fudd back on the court and coach Geno Auriemma back on the bench, No. 4 UConn women’s basketball rolled to an 82-52 win Wednesday night against St. John’s.
“She’s baaaaack,” injured Huskies star Paige Bueckers said of Fudd in the pregame warmup. She offered a warning not just to the Red Storm but to the college basketball world at large: Fudd is back, and so are the Huskies — if they ever really left.
The 2023 season has brought a parade of injuries and absences for UConn.
Bueckers tore her ACL in August, and freshman Ice Brady also is out for the season with a dislocated right patella. Dorka Juhász, Aubrey Griffin and Nika Mühl all have missed time. Caroline Ducharme and Ayanna Patterson sat out Wednesday’s game in concussion protocol.
Fudd returned Wednesday after missing eight games with a right knee injury, while coach Auriemma returned after missing two straight games due to illness.
Despite their depleted lineup, the Huskies (14-2) have continued to win. Fudd injured her knee in a Dec. 4 loss to No. 7 Notre Dame, and the team lost again a week later to No. 9 Maryland. But UConn quickly righted the ship and…
