The Group Chat: The People's Princess
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)

Leveling The Playing Field
It’s March, and Azzi Fudd is locked in. The UConn women’s basketball superstar won 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors as she helped lead her Huskies to last year’s national championship, and now her undefeated, No. 1 overall seed squad is back for more.
- But Fudd is so much more than the floor general for a hoops dynasty (and the likely No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick) — she’s a social media phenom, podcast host, famous WAG, businesswoman, and one of the best-dressed athletes out there.
- After our conversation on The GIST of It, we chatted about her inimitable personal style and how it’s become such a huge part of her public persona. Time to Fudd around and find out.



Fudd is the ultimate multi-hyphenate — here are just a few off-court wins she’s picked up in the past year:
- 💪 Made her return from a season-ending 2023 ACL tear
- 📲 Went viral on TikTok many times over
- 👟 Signed high-profile NIL deals with Jordan Brand, GEICO, and Unrivaled, just to name a few
- ♥️ Took her relationship with her girlfriend, former (and future?) teammate Paige Bueckers, public
- 💅 Graced the cover of SLAM and SELF, along with billboards in Times Square and outside Madison Square Garden. Most recently, she’s ESPN’s face of March Madness.
- 🎥 Featured in a Paramount+ docuseries about the foundations of her career
Clearly, she’s booked and busy. Fudd’s personal brand seamlessly integrates her on- and off-court personalities — she’s just as well known for her hoops as she is for her ’fits. When we asked her what she likes about being known for her style, she talked about escaping the bind women athletes often find themselves in:
- “I think it’s cool that you’re not just limited to that sporty look. You can also have that girly look with the heels or a skirt or a matched set. …I feel like women that were good at sports were [thought of as] too athletic and masculine or whatever. The fact that we can show both sides is nice.”
And when it comes to her ’fits, Fudd loves to go full girlie pop. “I would describe [my personal style] as definitely girly — I love a good crop. Definitely girly or feminine.” But in keeping with her multidimensionality, she always makes it interesting: “It’s been a mix because I’m really open to try new things.”
- When she works with a stylist she says, “I’m like whatever you come up with, I trust you. Let’s have fun. I’m the kind of person where if you come up with a rack of clothes, obviously I have to try everything on. The crazier-looking the thing, the more I have to try it on.”
THE BEST-DRESSED W PLAYERS, ACCORDING TO AZZI

Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
Did she mention Sky before her own girlfriend? Our lips are sealed…

Cameron Brink, LA Sparks
“Her [outfits] are so girly and I feel fit her…I love her style and I think she’s perfect.”
Fun and creativity are central to Fudd’s approach to fashion. “It’s a different way to express yourself. I’m someone that grew up wearing a uniform for so long, I didn’t really have reasons to put cool outfits on. So being able these last few years to work with stylists and watch professional players and their tunnel ’fits…it’s been a lot of fun just to experiment.
- “I wore a skirt this past fall for probably the first time since my uniform skirt in high school. I told myself I’d never wear a skirt again after high school, and there I was loving the skirt. It’s trying new things, fun things.” Obsessed.

Her ’fits light up your feed every time she sits courtside or drops a new photoshoot, but which look is her favorite? “There’s some good ones, that’s a hard question. I’d say most recently, the one I wore to the Unrivaled [semifinal] game. Honestly, just the coat. I loved the ’fit, but with the coat on, I felt so bougie in that. It felt kind of like an out-of-body experience walking around in that coat.” Our new Roman Empire.

At The GIST HQ

👟 Sliding: Into these sneakers. Bending over to tie your shoes is for suckers.
👀 Peeping: Obama’s women’s and men’s brackets. Which teams got the presidential seal of approval?
😍 Admiring: The courtside looks of March Madness.
🌷 Preparing: For spring with $20 linen pants.
Today's email was brought to you by Katie Kehoe Foster. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.
