​Geno Auriemma gave a subtle nod to the dynamic between Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd during a recent ESPN broadcast, a moment that stood out in a game that already carried extra significance. Auriemma was on the call for ESPN’s coverage of the Dallas Wings’ 88-77 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night, sharing the booth with Robin Roberts and Beth Mowins. This telecast was part of the WNBA’s ongoing celebration of its 30th season, a milestone marked by a throwback feel that brought together familiar voices and memories of the league’s early days. In fact, Auriemma and Roberts previously teamed up to call the league’s first ESPN game on June 23, 1997, underscoring the long-standing connections that have shaped women’s basketball commentary on national television.
What made this broadcast particularly noteworthy was Auriemma’s proximity to several of his former UConn stars who were on the Wings’ roster or in the game’s orbit. Among them were Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Breanna Stewart, all of whom have carried the UConn banner into the WNBA with notable success. The moment in question occurred late in the second quarter, when Auriemma, aiming to pay tribute to the Dallas players contributing to the team’s performance, inadvertently highlighted the relationship between Bueckers and Fudd. In the middle of a compliment for Jessica Shepard—who was doing significant work to enable her teammates—Auriemma blended names in a way that caught the attention of viewers: “Oh, Azzi will get 20—Pazzi—Paige will get this, Paige will get that, Azzi will get this, Jessica Shepard is making all this possible.” The line prompted questions: Was this a simple slip of the tongue, or a deliberate portmanteau crafted with knowledge of the fans’ nickname for the Bueckers–Fudd pairing?
The nickname Pazzi—born from fans who combined Paige and Azzi into a single moniker—has become a shorthand to describe the close on-court and off-court relationship between the two former UConn stars. Bueckers and Fudd, who were teammates at UConn, announced they were dating in the summer preceding the 2026 season. At that time, Bueckers already played for the Wings, while Fudd had just entered the WNBA after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Their reunion on a Dallas roster brings their story full circle: Paige and Azzi are now teammates again in the WNBA, this time under the Wings’ colors.
For other broadcasters, the use of “Pazzi” on air could spark controversy or pushback, given that Bueckers and Fudd have tried to keep their relationship relatively private and low-profile since turning pro as a pair. Auriemma, who guided them during their college years at UConn, arguably enjoys a certain degree of leeway to reference their bond publicly, even as colleagues refrain from spotlighting their personal relationship. ESPN’s handling of the Bueckers–Fudd dynamic has been more restrained in recent drafts and season broadcasts, with the network largely avoiding explicit discussion of their romance during coverage.
That reticence may have softened briefly on Tuesday night, when Auriemma’s offhand slip introduced the Pazzi nickname to the broadcast dialogue. While fans may debate whether the moment was intentional or merely a humorous misstep, the effect was to raise awareness of the pair’s continued connection within the league and to remind viewers of the ongoing storyline that has followed Bueckers and Fudd since their collegiate era at UConn. In the broader context of WNBA media coverage, the moment underscores how former coaches and long-standing relationships in women’s basketball can shape commentary and fan engagement, even as networks balance narrative with privacy and professionalism.
In sum, the ESPN broadcast delivered more than a game recap; it delivered a cultural note about the moving parts that define women’s basketball today. Auriemma’s inadvertent reference to Pazzi served as a microcosm of the lingering public interest in Bueckers and Fudd’s relationship, now intersecting with their professional lives as teammates in Dallas. The Wings’ win over the Liberty, the historic broadcast backdrop, and the potential implications for how media handles personal dynamics in women’s sports all combined to make that Tuesday night a notable moment in WNBA coverage. This alignment of former college stars, a long-running broadcast partnership, and a playful on-air slip created a talking point that fans will likely revisit as Bueckers, Fudd, and the Wings continue their season.