UConn sophomore guard Azzi Fudd will miss more time after reinjuring her right knee Sunday against Georgetown, one game after she had returned from a 5½-week absence from the initial injury, the program announced.
No timeline was released for Fudd's return, but coach Geno Auriemma said Friday there will be no surgery involved and the team will see how she feels after having no weight-bearing on the knee for two weeks. He called it a "wait-and-see" situation, emphasizing that each athlete's body responds differently to injury.
"You really can't put a definitive number on how long [she'll be out]," Auriemma said. "You've just got to let the healing process take its course."
Fudd was seen at practice Friday on crutches and wearing a knee brace.
The news came after the tide appeared to be turning in the right direction for UConn (16-2), which has dealt with a host of injury and illness issues. The Huskies have two players, including 2020-21 national player of the year Paige Bueckers, who were ruled out for the season before its start because of injury. Auriemma missed four games after not feeling well. Sophomore Caroline Ducharme and freshman Ayanna Patterson have been out most of this month in concussion protocol, meaning the Huskies might have only seven available players Saturday against Butler.
No. 5 UConn's schedule intensifies, as it hosts DePaul on Monday, travels to Tennessee for a nationally televised matchup on ESPN on Jan. 26 and takes on South Carolina at home Feb. 5.
Fudd, who's averaging a team-best 17.9 points and is shooting better than 53% from the floor, over 43% from the 3-point line and above 91% from the free throw line, has appeared in only nine games this season. In two of those games she got hurt (Dec. 4 vs. Notre Dame) or re-aggravated the injury (vs. Georgetown on Sunday). Both instances occurred when another player collided into Fudd's knee. She did not travel with the Huskies on Tuesday when they beat Seton Hall 103-58 in New Jersey.
Her initial recovery timeline was three to six weeks, and she made her return Jan. 11 vs. St. John's, scoring 14 points in just under 20 minutes.
Fudd previously tore her right ACL and MCL in April 2019, when she was in high school. She was also sidelined for 11 games her freshman year with a foot issue.