The Huskies’ two current stars will join the league started by two former UConn stars.
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong are among 14 women’s college basketball stars who signed NIL deals with Unrivaled, a 3×3 basketball league that operates during the WNBA’s offseason. The pair will help promote the fledgling league while also attending events throughout the year. The hope is they’ll eventually suit up when they turn pro.
Fudd could play in Unrivaled as early as 2027 as she embarks as her final year in Storrs but Strong still has three more seasons of eligibility to go.
Former UConn stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded Unrivaled as a way to keep WNBA stars stateside during the offseason instead of playing overseas. Seven Huskies participated in the inaugural campaign — Collier, Stewart, Tiffany Hayes, Aaliyah Edwards, Katie Lou Samuelson, Stefanie Dolson and Azura Stevens — with Collier taking home MVP honors while winning the 1v1 tournament.
Paige Bueckers is set to join Unrivaled this upcoming season after signing an NIL deal with the league last August. Unlike the current crop of signees, Bueckers received an ownership stake.
The other 12 players to sign as part of Unrivaled’s “Class of 2025” are JuJu Watkins (USC), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Olivia Miles (TCU), Madison Booker (Texas), Kiki Rice (UCLA), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Syla Swords (Michigan), and Sienna Betts (UCLA).