One day when temperatures reached heights in the 1940s, more than 100 people stood outside in a parking lot in the suburbs of Hartford of Enfield to have a preview of national champions.
Connecticut is called the “world basketball capital” for a reason. Support for the university of Connecticut hoop teams takes place deeply in the state of Muscade – and the men and women who present themselves in court paid them for this.
Wednesday marks 737 continuous days that Uconn can win a national basketball title. The men wore the crown of 2023 until 2024.
But here, in the parking lot of a chicken restaurant of cane farming right next to the Interstate 91, the crowd was there to see KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd – Stars of the Women’s Team which won the last national title of the school on Sunday afternoon.
This is the 18th Global School Basketball title and the 12th title for women, making it the most successful collegiate basketball team of all sexes in the history of sport.
Many expectations outside in rapid conditions were young girls, hoping to see their heroes only a few days after Uconn women were re-quantity at the top of the sport they dominated for three decades.
The national champions Uconn Azzi Fudd (L) and KK Arnold (R) speak to fans in Enfield, CT
Less than a week ago, Fudd (on the far left) and Arnold (second on the right) won the 12th UCONN national title
In an election north of Hartford, Fudd and Arnold greeted and served some of their fans
“It is the greatest compliment you can do to find out that we are models for these young girls, these young children,” said Fudd with a navy blue cane t-shirt. “And just to think that this is something I never want to take for granted, to think that I was in their place not so long ago. So, to be in this position now, it’s incredible.
Fudd and Arnold therefore returned to their community: serving chicken offers for fans and playing the crowd as part of a harmful agreement with the articulation of fast food.
They released the entry doors for cheers and on a scene while “We Are the Champions” of Queen released. Fudd thanked the crowd. Arnold completed a song in which the crowd played. The cheers rang while car horns kicked out behind them.
Being a UCONN women’s basketball player is accompanied by the pressure and waiting of the championships. The NCAA has only sponsored women’s basketball as a championship sport since the mid-80s. Since then, Uconn has won 28% of all titles.
But Arnold and Fudd knew in which they arose when they arrived in Uconn. This is what made him attractive in the first place.
When asked by Dailymail.com if she could imagine herself elsewhere, Arnold replied: “Not at all, honestly. In my opinion, this is my dream school. So, to live my dream, to be here alongside my sisters, to play with them, to learn from the best coaches. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.
Fudd was a choice of first 10 projected in the next draft of the WNBA. Instead, she announced half the NCAA tournament that she would return to Storrs and play another year under the coach Geno Auriemma.
Fudd managed to be a choice of WNBA draft among the 10 to return to Storrs, CT for another year in 2026
Arnold called Uconn his “dream school”, saying to Dailymail.com “I could not ask for a better opportunity”
“I am even more excited and motivated now to come back and win another with this team,” Fudd told Dailymail.com ‘I can’t wait to play more games with each person in this team.
“I can’t wait to return to Gampel (pavilion) with the best fans in the world. So I think that this year, it made me more excited and hungry to have this feeling again.
A race to the title seemed in the air a few months ago. Close losses against the USC and its Tennessee rival have led to many questions asked to the Huskies.
But they rallied, working together on the ground and far from him to overcome everything that could hold them.
“I felt like we are meeting as a team,” Arnold told journalists. “We have done different things out of the field to get together, and we always communicate with each other, having fun.
“I feel like what brought us in the season, after these difficult matches like Tennessee … We realized that we were better than that and we just picked it up from there and that the practices became more intense and different from there.”
Fudd agreed: “I think each team goes through their fair share of difficulties and trials. But I think that what this team has gone through together, in particular this basic group, I have the impression that we have just lived a lot of traumatic experiences, a lot of injuries, a lot of reverse … It was not easy all year round.
“We had our battles this year, but just to see us meet at the end when it really had and played as we did, I think it was really special.”
Fudd was appointed the most remarkable player in the Final Four for his performance
Arnold (above) and Fudd should enter leadership roles next season
Next season, Arnold and Fudd will be leaders of this Huskies team to defend a title
Fudd was appointed the most exceptional player of the last four for his performances during the UCONN race on the title.
Now, with the departure of goalkeeper Paige Bueckers – which would be the first global choice in the draft of the WNBA next Monday – she will have the offseason to prepare for an increased leadership role.
“I will certainly have to be vocal next year,” Fudd told journalists. “This is something that I have always taken for granted, having Paige (Bueckers), having Nika (Mühl, who was drafted by Seattle last year), having Kaitlyn (Chen).”
“I think it will be really the biggest difference is to use my voice, to get on people, to get on KK,” she said, laughing.
Arnold understands that more will also be asked. She says she will spend a lot of time focusing on the weak points of my game and from there.
Like Fudd, Arnold will also work on “Finding my voice, being really this type of leader you know, Paige and Kaitlyn and Aubrey (Griffin) and this type of players were for me. I’m just trying to go from there. Also also alongside Azzi to share this role of leadership, it’s super good and it’s going to be great.
