Azzi is elite

Calling Azzi Fudd the 39th-best player in women’s college basketball is laughable and borderline disqualifying for any “credible” list. Watch her for a single half and it’s obvious: she’s a tier-one star hiding in plain sight. Fudd’s game is complete—three-level scoring, off-ball gravity, on-ball poise, and big-game shotmaking. She can win possessions without a dribble (relocation threes, flare reads), or bend a defense with patient pick-and-roll work, mid-range craft, and a tighter handle than she ever gets credit for.

Yes, last year she shared the spotlight with Paige Bueckers and the buzz around Sarah Strong, but “sharing” isn’t “lesser.” Fudd’s presence warps scouting reports: top-lock her and she back-cuts; switch it and she punishes with pace and footwork; chase her over and she buries the pull-up. The defense has caught up, too—better angles at the point of attack, stronger contests, and cleaner screen navigation.

If awards voters actually watch impact instead of spreadsheets, Fudd is a First-Team All-American. And let’s not tiptoe around the pro projection: with sustained health, she has a real pathway to play herself into the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft. Ranking her 39th isn’t just wrong—it’s a tell that the ranker stopped paying attention.