NEED TO KNOW
Paige Bueckers is joking that her recent relationship reveal was a total “set up.”
Before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, in partnership with Ally Bank, the Dallas Wings star, 23, spoke with PEOPLE about how she recently confirmed that she was in a relationship with Azzi Fudd, a fellow University of Connecticut alum and women’s basketball star.
Bueckers agreed to take part in a video segment for WAG Talk, a TikTok account where people are interviewed about their athlete partners — or in the WNBA star’s case, about her “D1 girlfriend.”
“That was just a setup,” she joked, with a grin. “I didn’t even mean for that to happen, and here we are.”
And when asked about Fudd’s phone case (decorated with the words “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend” and noticed by some eagle-eyed fans last month), the WNBA star added, “It was kind of accidental, now here we are.”
“We haven’t officially announced anything, but it’s just stuff has been happening that has it out there. So, it is what it is,” the athlete said with a big smile.
M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Bueckers revealed her relationship status when she was asked to answer questions about her former teammate, 22, in an interview with WAG Talk at a 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star event on Thursday, July 17.
“How well do you know your D1 girlfriend?” the interviewer asked, prompting a smile from Bueckers.
Soon after, the WNBA athlete correctly answered a series of questions, including the name of the high school Fudd attended, the year she was named Gatorade Player of the Year, her ranking in the class of 2021, and the year she made her first collegiate start.
Other correctly answered questions included the college basketball team that Fudd’s dad played for, the basketball player she was named after, the award she won for her national championship performance, and what her phone case says.
After the WAG Talk interviewer asked, “Girlfriend reveal it’s…” Bueckers replied, “Azzi Fudd.”
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Elsewhere in her interview, the WNBA rookie spoke about the learning curve she’s faced getting into the public eye, and shared that she’s figuring out how to navigate social media and her personal life every day.
“It’s fun,” she shared. “We’re in the entertainment business, we understand the importance of the media and how they drive our sport and help bring more eyes and attention to it.”
“It’s a fun balance of also knowing when to stay on social media, but also knowing how important it is to go on it,” Bueckers added.
Bueckers and Fudd, also a podcaster, have long been rumored to be in a relationship. After the 2025 ESPYs on Wednesday, July 16, Bueckers shared a photo of Fudd on the red carpet on her Instagram Stories, accompanied by a series of hot face emojis, according to Parade.
Other instances of the two showing affection for one another have included Fudd sharing a selfie of the two wearing matching athleisure, being seen holding hands at a Wings road game and wearing matching “A” and “P” necklaces.