Azzi Fudd's mom named her after an iconic basketball player
Credit: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty; Azzi Fudd / Instagram
Azzi Fudd’s rise in basketball began long before she helped UConn win the 2025 NCAA National Championship, and her parents played a major role in that early start.
The Arlington, Va., native started playing the sport as a child and quickly stood out, becoming one of the first girls invited to Stephen Curry’s SC30 Select Camp and later earning national recognition in high school.
After recovering from multiple injuries during her high school and collegiate career, she returned for her senior season and has played a key role in UConn’s 2026 title run.
Azzi has credited her parents, Katie Smrcka‑Duffy Fudd and Tim Fudd, for shaping her early connection to the game.
"They’re the reason I'm playing basketball," Azzi told reporters after winning the 2025 National Championship. "They taught me most of the things I know, so shout-out Mom and Dad."
Here’s everything to know about Azzi Fudd’s parents.
They both played college basketball
Credit: M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty; Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Azzi comes from a basketball family. Both of her parents, Katie and Tim, played the sport at a high level before moving into coaching.
Tim played at American University from 1991 to 1996 and earned All‑Colonial Athletic Association honors, according to his Longwood University bio. He later played professionally in Europe before becoming a coach.
Katie also had a standout career. She started at NC State, where she was named ACC Rookie of the Year, then transferred to Georgetown, according to ESPN. After college, she was picked up in the fourth round of the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Sacramento Monarchs and later became a coach as well.
Their love of the game shaped Azzi early on. She has said her mother’s passion and early retirement due to injuries pushed her to work harder, telling ESPN in 2022, “I want to achieve her dreams that she didn't get to achieve and do the things that she couldn't do.”
They also have three sons
When Azzi was born in 2002, Katie decided that basketball needed to show up in her name so she pulled inspiration from Jennifer Azzi, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist.
When the future star shooting guard was a little over 1 year old, Tim and Katie met. Per ESPN, the couple's love blossomed and Tim helped raised Azzi since she was 2 years old.
The family is also made up of three sons — Thomas, Jon and Jose. The latter two boys were originally fostered by Tim's mom but upon her death due to lung cancer in 2011, he and Katie took over custody.
They co‑founded a basketball training program
Credit: Azzi Fudd / Instagram
Katie and Tim are both central figures at GTS Fusion, a girls’ basketball development program they founded in the Washington, D.C., in 2012, according to the organization’s official site.
Tim had coaching experience at St. John’s College High School, Longwood University and several AAU programs. Katie, who coached at the Potomac School, serves as the program’s Head of Player Development and Head Coach of the 15U GUAA team.
GTS Fusion describes its mission as developing players through skill work, fundamentals and long‑term growth, with both Katie and Tim leading those efforts.
Katie and Tim supported Azzi through multiple injuries and have rarely missed a game
Credit: Azzi Fudd / Instagram
Katie and Tim have been a steady presence throughout their daughter's UConn career, especially during the stretches when she was sidelined because of injuries.
Azzi tore her ACL and MCL in 2019 and later missed 22 games as a sophomore because of a knee injury.
According to CT Insider, the couple have traveled to nearly every UConn game, home or away, even when Azzi wasn’t playing. They once flew from Washington, D.C., to Indiana, rented a car and drove two hours just to watch UConn face Butler without Azzi playing. The next day, they drove another two hours to Cincinnati for the Xavier game, squeezing in only a few minutes with Azzi in the hotel lobby between stops.
For Tim, showing up has always been the point. “At the end of the day, when (Azzi) walks away from it and looks back on this experience she’ll remember us being there and enjoying that experience with her and being on that journey with her,” he told CT Insider. “I think that’s something she’ll appreciate once she’s far removed from it, 15, 20 years from now.”
Their commitment comes from their own upbringing. Both Katie and Tim grew up with parents who never missed a game, and they’ve carried that tradition forward.
“There’s nothing like having people that you trust and love be there and supporting you when things are going well, when things aren’t going well, holding you up in an invisible way,” Tim said. “You’re there to support her. Love her. Encourage her and to be a force of love and support if you will.”
Even when Azzi was sidelined, they stayed close to the program, checking in with coaches, sitting in their usual seats across from the bench and cheering loudly for every player.
“We treat every kid the same,” Tim said. “We’re supporting everyone. We’re encouraging everyone. It’s not just about Azzi.”
Katie was inducted into Georgetown’s Big East Legends list
Credit: Azzi Fudd / Instagram
During halftime of UConn’s Big East Tournament game against Georgetown in March 2026, Katie was recognized by her alma mater as part of the 2026 Big East Legends class.
The program honors former players and coaches for their contributions to their schools and the conference.
Katie spent three seasons with the Georgetown women’s basketball program, where she averaged more than 15 points per game each year. According to She Got Game, the arena played a video tribute to her career, and fans from both teams applauded as her name was announced. Azzi watched the moment from the opposite bench.
Katie said the recognition still feels unreal. “It is crazy,” she told She Got Game. “Who would have thought? But I do think it comes back to leaving it better than you found it. I wanted to set a precedent of how you carry yourself, how you work, setting expectations of success and winning … not just ‘We are here to play,’ but ‘We are here to win.’ ”
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