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The Sun’s six-game homestand concludes Thursday night at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, offering Connecticut fans a chance to celebrate the WNBA’s past and future.
The Connecticut Sun host Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and the Dallas Wings on Thursday night, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET. The former UConn stars make their return to Connecticut on the same night as the Sun celebrates their former All-Star, Jasmine Thomas.
Dallas Wings guards Paige Bueckers (5) and Azzi Fudd (35) stand on the floor with teammates during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AP Photo/LM Otero
Former UConn women’s basketball stars return to old stomping grounds
When the Huskies hit the court later this year, they will do so for the first time without Bueckers or Fudd since 2020. The last time the duo shared the court in Connecticut was during UConn’s run to the national title in 2025.
Since then, both players have only continued to thrive.
After being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers hit the ground running with the Dallas Wings. The Edina, Minn. native averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a rookie, earning an All-Star appearance, an All-WNBA 2nd Team selection and the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award.
But Bueckers’ efforts were not enough to save the Wings from a disastrous season, finishing with a 10-34 record, worst in the league, with a second consecutive first overall pick as the silver lining from a challenging year.
Back in Storrs, Azzi Fudd broke out in a big way. As one of only three seniors returning to the defending champions’ roster, Fudd took the mantle as the team’s leader and helped guide the Huskies to a 38-1 record, earning their sixth consecutive Big East title and their 25th Final Four appearance.
UConn guard KK Arnold (2), forward Sarah Strong (21) and guard Azzi Fudd (35) react from the bench during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton in the semifinals of the Big East tournament, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP
Fudd’s 17.3 points per game only trailed Sarah Strong (18.4 ppg) on the Huskies’ roster, while averaging 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals. While each of these were career-high marks for the Arlington County, Virginia native, Fudd’s jump in three-point shooting caught the eyes of WNBA scouts everywhere.
After successfully returning from her second ACL tear in 2024, Fudd led the Big East Conference in 3-point shooting with 43.6% on 5.3 attempts per game, similar to her numbers from her freshman year. But Fudd turned it up even more in her final season at UConn, shooting 44.7% from beyond the arc (fifth in the nation) on 6.7 attempts per game and leading the nation with 117 made 3-pointers, the fourth-highest season mark in UConn’s history.
Fudd became the seventh Husky ever drafted No. 1 overall, joining Bueckers in Dallas. The duo will long be remembered in the storied program’s history, as Fudd’s UConn career finished with fourth-most 3-pointers made (292) and the third-highest 3-point percentage (42.2%). As for Bueckers, she remains third in career points (2,439), first in points per game (19.8) and fifth in assists per game (4.6).
Olivia Nelson-Ododa went a perfect 6-6 from the floor on June 8.Emma Bynes
Can the Sun maintain momentum?
The Sun’s final season in Connecticut has produced few bright spots on the court, currently last in the league standings with a 4-15 record.
But coming off their gritty win over the Washington Mystics on Friday, the Sun have a chance to build real momentum and pick up their third consecutive victory.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa led the way with 12 points, nine rebounds and a season-high three blocks, highlighting the team’s focus and commitment to finishing games
“We’ve had so many games where it’s been such a close call or we struggled finishing,” Nelson-Ododa said. “This is us just really finding our groove and finding how to finish these games out.”
With eight games left before the All-Star break in late July, the Sun can build real momentum heading into the second half of the season. Connecticut is 5.5 games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot and has 25 games remaining on its schedule.
Connecticut Sun's Jasmine Thomas, right, drives against Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne during the first half in Game 3 of basketball's WNBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP
Sun to honor franchise legend Jasmine Thomas
A key figure in the Sun’s journey to the WNBA Finals in 2019, Thomas was acquired by Connecticut in 2015 via a trade with the Atlanta Dream. The 12th overall pick out of Duke in the 2011 WNBA Draft was widely regarded as one of the top perimeter defenders in the league during her time in Connecticut, earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team from 2017-2019.
Thomas was named an All-Star in 2017 alongside fellow Sun All-Stars Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones. She scored a career-high 14.2 points per game and finished sixth in the league in total steals (51). The 13-year league veteran retired with the second-most assists (994) and steals (286) in the Sun’s franchise history.
“I landed in Connecticut when I was still adjusting and figuring out who I was going to be in the league,” the Fairfax, Virginia native said in a press release from the Sun. “I’m grateful for the coaches giving me the opportunity to develop. I enjoyed leaving everything I had out on the court, every game for the incredible teammates that I’m lucky to have played with.
“I love all the people I had the chance to work with in operations, front office and the arena staff. The Sun organization and their fans embraced and believed in me. The Sun and Mohegan will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Thomas’ No. 5 will be retired to the rafters alongside former Sun greats, including Jonquel Jones, Nykesha Sales and Lindsay Whalen.
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