Azzi Fudd's decorated five-year career at UConn did not get its storybook finish. The superstar was emotional after the South Carolina Gamecocks ended the Huskies' 54-game winning streak and their season.

Her postgame words, however, focused on gratitude for her time with the program. “Obviously, this isn't how I wanted my career at UConn to end,” said Fudd postgame as she barely held back the tears.

“But these five years, I have so much to be grateful for. I couldn't have asked for better teammates, better coaches, a better experience,” she added.

Despite her overall good season, the Huskies’ Guard shot 3-for-15, including 2-of-9 from 3P against the Gamecocks. Her offensive struggle ended with just 8 points, 5 assists, and 1 rebound in 39 minutes. And Azzi Fudd knew that she “let the team down.”

Yet, there's a “lot of gratitude, a lot of love” for the teammates, coaches, and supporting staff that she couldn't verbalize. However, it seems like the coach knew something like this could happen.

Geno Auriemma’s Prediction on Azzi Fudd

Fudd averaged 17.5 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds this season on highly efficient shooting splits. However, Auriemma knew the type of pressure she felt as a senior with 5 years behind her. And how it would go if the Huskies lost.

"If we win tomorrow and we win Sunday, Azzi will be crowned as one of the greatest of all-time”, he said before the game. “If we don't win tomorrow and we don't even get a chance to play on Sunday, she's going to feel like that this was a disappointing year for her.”

Geno reached out to give her a back pat when Azzi Fudd couldn’t hold back her tears. To him, “Azzi's job was done” after the Huskies beat Notre Dame. The rest were “all just bonus, because getting here is the hard part.”

Azzi Fudd may have missed her chance to cut the net in her collegiate career, but her best is yet to come, as she’ll gear up for the bigger league. Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi