#Naismith College Player of the Year

[pbaz7]

AGAINST THE TIDE: PART THREE

paige x azzi

word count: 5.3k

A/N: Here’s a chapter with a lot more interaction between Paige and Azzi. Don’t do too much on my girl this chapter y’all she getting better😭. Let me know what you think and leave reactions! I’m low key starting chapter 5 today 🤭

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April 2021

Azzi and Paige's respective seasons had come to an end, though in completely different fashions.

For Azzi, it was the perfect finale to her high school career. After a long recovery from her ACL and MCL injury, she returned stronger than anyone thought possible in her senior year. And she was able to cement her place as one of the best players in the nation after everyone questioned if she would be able to come back the same. She became a McDonald's All-American and earned the prestigious Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award on top of carrying her team to another state championship, leaving her high school legacy on the highest note possible. When she walked off the court for the final time in her high school jersey, the roar of the crowd and the embrace of her teammates felt like the perfect send-off. Azzi was content. She had conquered every challenge thrown her way, and now she was ready for the next chapter at UConn.

For Paige, the end of her freshman year at UConn was a much different story. On paper, her season was nothing short of extraordinary. She had helped the Huskies defeat their rivals time and time again, putting on performances that left commentators and fans in awe. She’d scored a season-high 32 points and dished out 7 assists against St. John’s of New York—a game where it seemed like her fierce competitiveness toward the St. John’s she’d grown up playing against carried over to this completely unrelated team.

The accolades poured in. Paige was named Big East Player of the Year, unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year, and helped UConn secure the Big East Championship title. She had the most points by any UConn player in their NCAA tournament debut. By the end of the season, she’d been crowned AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year—the first freshman in history to earn both honors.

But none of that mattered to Paige.

For all the individual awards and historic milestones, she couldn't forgive herself for how the season ended. UConn had made it to the Final Four, and the weight of expectations—both internal and external—was immense. Paige believed it was her job to lead her team to a national championship, but when they lost to Arizona in the semifinals, everything came crashing down for her.

She replayed the game in her mind constantly, scrutinizing every missed shot, every turnover, every moment she thought she could have done more. The praise and accolades felt hollow, and no one could convince her otherwise. For Paige, and according to the media, the loss was a failure. It didn’t matter that she was only 19 years old, it didn’t matter that she was only a freshman, the media tore into her from every angle and she hated herself for giving them the room to talk in the first place, despite what everyone around her said. If she had won they wouldn’t have had anything to say.

While Azzi basked in the glow of a picture perfect end to her high school journey, Paige drowned herself in guilt and frustration. Day after day, she was in the gym, pushing herself harder and harder. No one had to tell her to work—she was relentless. The sound of basketballs hitting the court echoing through an otherwise empty gym.

For Paige, there was no off-season. The only way to make peace with her freshman year, she thought, was to be better.

Her freshman year had been historic. But Paige didn’t care about history. She only cared about winning, and anything less wasn’t good enough.

May 2021

Paige was back home in the DMV, spending her days exactly the way she had since the loss in the Final Four. The small, private space her trainer let her use had become her sanctuary. She had poured every ounce of herself into her offseason grind, putting on muscle and sharpening her skills. Each shot, each drill, each drop of sweat was a reminder of what she wanted to fix.

The gym was empty, just how she liked it. Paige worked in solitude, her sneakers squeaking on the hardwood as she moved through her drills. The sharp echo of the ball bouncing against the floor filled the space. She was locked in, oblivious to everything but the rhythm of her workout.

The faint creak of the door opening didn’t even break her focus.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called out.

Paige barely glanced over, recognizing Azzi immediately. She gave a slight nod in polite acknowledgment but kept shooting. Azzi lingered near the door for a moment, unsure if she should stay or leave. Last summer, she would have turned around and walked away without hesitation like she almost did. But not this time. She stepped farther into the gym, watching Paige as the other girl moved with mechanical precision, no emotion on her face

After a while, Azzi spoke again, her voice cutting through the quiet. “Are we ever going to talk? You know, now that we’re going to be on the same team.”

Paige didn’t even look up. “Not really in the mood to talk today, sorry.” She said, launching another three-pointer that swished through the net.

Azzi sighed, crossing her arms. “Seems like a pattern,” she muttered, just loud enough for Paige to hear.

That made Paige pause. She caught the ball as it rebounded toward her and turned to face Azzi, her expression annoyed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Azzi leaned against the wall, arms still folded. “You know what I’m talking about. When I came to visit UConn in December, you blew me off. You couldn’t even speak, let alone stick around for five minutes.”

Paige scoffed, dribbling the ball lazily as she shook her head. “Not everything is about you, Azzi.”

Azzi pushed off the wall, her brows furrowed. “That’s bullshit. You were avoiding me. Just stop being pussy and admit it.”

Paige let out a humorless laugh. “Contrary to this inflated-ass ego you seem to have, other people have things going on. It didn’t have shit to do with you Azzi.”

Azzi stared at her, stunned eyes almost bulging out of her head. “I have the ego? You can’t be serious right now?”

“Yes,” Paige said flatly, bouncing the ball once before shooting it again.

Azzi stepped closer, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “You couldn’t put your feelings aside for two seconds to welcome me to UConn because your ego’s so damn big.”

Paige rolled her eyes, spinning the ball on her hand before letting it drop to the floor. “Like I said, it didn’t have shit to do with you. I played like garbage the day before and needed to clear my head.”

Azzi tilted her head, her tone incredulous. “You played fine, Paige. I watched that game.”

Paige snorted, shaking her head as she bent to pick up the ball. “No, I didn’t.” She straightened up and started ticking off mistakes on her fingers. “I had a sloppy turnover, missed three shots that all hit the rim the exact same way because my footing was off, got scored on because I went under screens too many damn times…” Her voice was rising, her frustration with herself evident.

Azzi blinked, caught off guard by the laundry list of self-criticism. “That’s not even that bad, Paige. You’re just trying to find excuses for being childish and avoiding me.”

Paige’s eyes flashed as she now fully faced Azzi, her tone sharp. “See that’s your problem, Azzi. You’re fine with ‘not bad.’ You’re fine with mediocre shit and you get mad at people who aren’t.”

Azzi, clearly offended. “You don’t know shit about me if you think I’m fine with mediocre Paige.”

“Oh, I know enough,” Paige shot back, her voice laced with irritation as she shot the ball again.

Azzi let out a muttered, “Whatever,” as she turned away. She grabbed her basketball shoes, plopping down on the bench to lace them up. Afterward, she moved to stretch, her movements calm and deliberate, just like she always did.

The silence between them was heavy, but neither seemed willing to break it. Paige resumed her shooting, her focus sharp and a little intense now. Azzi followed suit, picking up a ball and taking her own shots. Unlike last summer, when they’d somehow found a rhythm together, this time they kept their distance, rebounding their own shots and staying on opposite ends of the half court.

The only sounds were the echo of the basketballs, the swish of the net, and their heavy breathing. The tension that lingered between them from the argument didn’t dissipate, but they both seemed like they were just going to ignore it.

Paige’s focus faltered as her phone, lying on the bench nearby, began to ring. The sharp tone interrupted her music in her ears, cutting into her concentration. She ignored it the first time, then the second, but by the third, she was definitely irritated.

“Are we serious?” she muttered under her breath, catching the ball after it went through the net and tucking it under her arm. She walked over to the bench, her frustration evident in every step. Grabbing the phone, she glanced at the screen before answering.

“Yes, E?” Paige said, clearly irritated with everything happening today.

Azzi glanced over briefly but kept shooting as she heard the nickname she knew was for Evina, her movements still smooth and efficient. She couldn’t help but listen to Paige’s side of the conversation, even if she pretended not to.

“I’m fine,” Paige said, her tone clipped. A pause, then, “No, I don’t need you guys checking in on me every five minutes. I’m not a kid.”

Azzi caught her rebound, her curiosity piqued. She heard Paige’s exasperated sigh before she continued. “I said I’m fine!…I’m sorry…I’m just in the gym, okay?”

Another pause, longer this time. Paige’s expression softened slightly, though her tone remained defensive. “Yes, I’m eating. No, I’m not overdoing it. Can you guys please just stop hovering for like two seconds? I swear I’m fine.”

Azzi missed her next shot, distracted by the way Paige’s voice wavered slightly on the last sentence. She retrieved the ball and glanced over again, noting the way Paige’s jaw was clenched slightly with the conversation.

“Yes E, I get it, okay? I do. But I don’t need you to—” Paige stopped mid-sentence, closing her eyes and letting out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, I know it’s not my fault–Yes I know. Ok, I’ll call you later.”

She hung up abruptly, tossing her phone back onto the bench with more force than necessary. Her shoulders sagged for a moment before she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and straightened up, spinning the ball in her hands as she made her way back to the court.

Azzi didn’t say anything, but she watched Paige carefully, her expression unreadable. Paige didn’t acknowledge her, resuming her shooting with a little more force than before, as if trying to work out her frustrations on the court.

The silence between them stretched on, filled only by the rhythm of bouncing balls and the occasional swish of a perfect shot.

July 2021

The short break before heading to UConn for the summer session had gone by a little too quickly for Azzi. It felt like one moment she was at home with her family, soaking up their familiar warmth, and the next, she was packing her bags, giving tight hugs, and heading off to start a new chapter in Connecticut. The thought of being at UConn felt surreal, even though she’d visited before. Now it was official—she was part of the team.

The roster had shifted quite a bit since her last visit. Azzi wasn’t the only fresh face; two other freshmen, Caroline and Amari, had joined the team. The sophomore class had thinned out, now consisting of only Paige, Aaliyah, Nika, and Piath. Aubrey was the only junior on the team, and was known for her quiet but steady presence on the court. The upperclassmen rounded out the roster, with seniors Christyn and Olivia bringing their experience, Evina stepping into a leadership role, and Dorka, a graduate transfer, joining the fold for her first year at UConn.

It was a balanced team, a blend of youth and experience, and Azzi felt a mix of nerves and excitement at the thought of working with them. The expectations were high, but she was ready.

…

From the moment she arrived, the practices were intense. UConn’s reputation as a basketball powerhouse wasn’t just for show, and the demands were grueling on Azzi’s body. The upperclassmen set the tone, with Evina and Christyn emerging as clear leaders, guiding the team both on and off the court. Paige, despite being only a sophomore, was right there with them. She had an undeniable presence, her skills speaking louder than words, and her surprisingly calm demeanor commanded respect everyday at practice.

Azzi, however, was still trying to get a read on Paige. The girl was an enigma. For someone who could be so fiery and competitive on the court, Paige seemed almost indifferent to Azzi off it. She didn’t go out of her way to ignore her, but she didn’t engage either. Paige showed up to team bonding events, polite and cordial, but her interactions with Azzi were nonexistent unless they were arguing during drills or scrimmages.

It was frustrating, to say the least. Azzi couldn’t tell if Paige didn’t like her or just didn’t care for her presence. And yet, somehow, during today’s team bonding activity—a scavenger hunt organized by Coach CD, of all things—Azzi found herself assigned as Paige’s partner.

Paige muttered something under her breath when the pairs were announced .

Azzi crossed her arms, arching a brow. “Trust me, I’m not exactly jumping for joy here either.”

Paige rolled her eyes at Azzi’s comment , adjusting the strap of her backpack. “Let’s just go.”

The rest of the team was already scattering in pairs, armed with clue sheets and a mix of determination and excitement. Azzi glanced at their first clue and sighed. This was going to be a long afternoon.

The two of them trudged through the scavenger hunt, their movements as tense as the silence between them. Paige seemed perfectly at ease with it, her eyes fixed on the list in her hand. Azzi, on the other hand, was brimming with unspoken frustration. She wasn’t one to hold things in, and after several minutes of biting her tongue, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Why don’t you like me?” Azzi blurted out, the words cutting through the quiet.

Paige barely looked up from her paper. “I don’t not like you,” she replied, her tone not hinting at her emotion.

Azzi huffed, folding her arms as she followed Paige. “Yeah, sure. That’s why you barely talk to me outside of practice. That’s why all you do is argue with me when we scrimmage. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you roll your eyes every time I open my mouth.”

Paige finally stopped walking, turning to face Azzi with a mixture of confusion and something else. “You’re reading too much into it Azzi. Just because we don’t hang out doesn’t mean I don’t like you.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, her expression incredulous. “Then what does it mean, Paige? Because from where I’m standing, it sure feels like you’ve decided you can’t stand me and you bust my ass everyday in practice.”

Paige sighed, glancing around as if hoping for the next clue to appear and rescue her from the conversation. “That doesn’t mean I don’t like you. It just means I think you need to be better.”

Azzi blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness of the statement. “Better?”

“Yeah,” Paige said, her voice even. “You’re good, Azzi. Everyone on the planet knows you’re good. But if you want to be great—if you want to be what this team needs—you have to start acting like it.”

Azzi scoffed, her frustration bubbling over. “Are you kidding me? I work my ass off every single day. I’m in the gym just as much as you are—probably more.”

Paige shrugged, not bothered by that last comment knowing it wasn’t true. “It doesn’t matter how much you work if you don’t carry it with you onto the court. Until you start playing like you know you’re the second-best player on this team, it’s not going to mean anything.”

“Second best,” Azzi repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Wow, what an honor.”

“Exactly,” Paige said, her eyes narrowing. “You don’t agree. You need to own that. Play like it. Make everyone feel it.”

Azzi shook her head, incredulous. “Just because I don’t have a giant ego like you doesn’t mean I don’t think I’m the best.”

“I don’t have an ego,” Paige said. “I just know what this team needs.”

Azzi stepped closer, her voice rising slightly. “Oh, you mean they need another uptight, self-centered recruit who thinks they have all the answers?”

Paige’s jaw tightened, but she kept her voice calm. “No, they need the top recruit they just got to stop being passive and start leading. They need someone who plays like they know they’re the best so the rest of the team can feed off of it.”

Azzi let out a bitter laugh. “So... basically an asshole?”

Paige exhaled sharply, clearly done with the conversation. She shook her head and turned back to the scavenger hunt, muttering, “You don’t get it.”

“No, I don’t,” Azzi shot back, her tone challenging. “And you know what? You don’t get me either. You think you’ve got me all figured out, like I’m some shy, passive player who’s too scared to take charge. But you don’t know the first thing about me Paige.”

Paige stopped walking, spinning around to face Azzi. “And you think you know me? You think I’m just some uptight ass self-absorbed player who doesn’t care about anyone else? I just have my own shit to deal with. Not everything is about you.”

Azzi bristled at the words, her voice dropping to a quieter but still heated tone. “I never said it was about me. But you could at least try to make me feel like I’m part of this team instead of treating me like an outsider.”

Paige’s expression softened for just a moment, but she quickly masked it with a shrug. “Maybe stop acting like one.”

Azzi stared at her, her frustration mixing with hurt. “You really think I’m not trying?”

Paige didn’t answer right away, her eyes flicking back to the scavenger hunt paper. “No that’s not what I said, I think you’re holding yourself back. And this team doesn’t have time for that.”

Azzi shook her head, biting back a retort. They resumed walking, the silence between them now heavier than before. Paige stayed focused on the clues, while Azzi followed a step behind, her mind racing with everything they had just said—and left unsaid.

After a stretch of silence, the tension between them still hung heavy in the air. Azzi walked a step behind Paige, her frustration simmering beneath the surface as Paige stayed focused on the scavenger hunt paper, seemingly unaffected.

Finally, Paige slowed her steps, glancing over her shoulder. Her voice was quieter this time but still firm. “Azzi… I don’t not like you. Seriously.”

Azzi looked up, startled by the unexpected comment. “Could’ve fooled me,” she muttered.

Paige turned to face her, her expression unreadable. “You belong on this team. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. And yeah, you can be frustrating as hell and I definitely don’t agree with a lot of the things you say, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re good. Doesn’t mean I don’t like you and I’m sorry if I made you think that.”

Azzi blinked, caught off guard by the blunt acknowledgment. She shifted her weight, her frustration tempered but not entirely gone. “Well, maybe if you didn’t act like I had something to prove all the time, I’d actually feel like I belonged.”

Paige exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Pushing you is how I know you do belong. I wouldn’t waste my time talking to you if you didn’t.”

Azzi’s lips pressed into a thin line, but a flicker of understanding passed through her expression. “Fine,” she said after a beat, her tone quieter now. “But maybe try dialing it back a little. Just… once in a while. It’s tiring.”

Paige shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Azzi rolled her eyes at the silence but didn’t press further. They resumed walking, the tension between them still lingering, but the weight of it had lessened—just enough to keep moving forward. Maybe Azzi would try her luck again at getting to know the blonde.

…

Later that night the team was gathered in one of the larger suites, the atmosphere buzzing with energy as conversations overlapped and laughter echoed through the space. Players lounged across couches and the carpeted floor, munching on snacks and joking around. It was one of the nightly bonding sessions the seniors insisted on, a tradition meant to bring the team closer as the season loomed.

Paige sat at one end of the couch, scrolling through her phone with a focused expression. Azzi, perched on the armrest opposite her, noticed how Paige’s grip on her phone tightened slightly, her jaw set in a way that betrayed her usual calm demeanor during times like this. Curiosity piqued, Azzi leaned subtly to get a glimpse of what Paige was reading. The headline immediately made her frown: “Paige Bueckers: Can She Handle the Pressure This Season?”

The article was harsh but clearly biased, questioning Paige’s ability to bounce back from the previous year’s challenges. Paige’s face betrayed nothing, but Azzi could feel the tension radiating from her as her jaw continued to tighten.

Without a word, Paige suddenly stood, catching everyone’s attention.

“Where are you going?” Nika asked from her spot on the floor, looking up with a raised brow.

“The gym,” Paige replied flatly.

A collective groan went around the room.

“Come on,” Christyn said, leaning back against the armrest of a chair. “We’re supposed to be bonding, not sneaking off to the gym again.”

“You’ve been there all day already,” Olivia added, shaking her head. “What’s left to work on?”

Paige crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed by the protests. “You don’t have to drag me out later I swear. I’ll be fine.”

Before anyone else could chime in, Azzi spoke up, her voice cutting through the noise. “I’ll go with her.”

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Azzi. Nika blinked, looking as though she misheard.

“Wait, what?” Aaliyah asked, tilting her head.

“Azzi, you good?” Christyn asked, confused about her voluntarily being around Paige.

Even Paige hesitated, glancing at Azzi with a mix of surprise and confusion. “You don’t have to—”

“It’s fine,” Azzi interrupted, her tone firm. “There’s some stuff we probably need to work on together anyway.”

Paige’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to figure out Azzi’s angle, but she didn’t argue.

Nika glanced at Caroline, who sat beside her on the floor. “Am I the only one wondering what’s going on here?”

Caroline shrugged, looking equally curious. “Nope.”

“I mean, we’re all thinking it,” Dorka chimed in, earning a few quiet laughs.

Paige sighed, clearly ready to leave the scrutiny behind. “I’ll grab you some clothes,” she muttered, already heading toward her room.

Azzi stood, ignoring the murmurs and exchanged glances from the team. Aubrey, who had been quietly observing from the corner, gave her a small smile, the only one not visibly surprised.

As Azzi followed Paige out of the suite, Nika leaned toward Aaliyah, whispering just loud enough to be heard, “This is either going to end in a fistfight or... something we don’t want to know about.”

“Probably both,” Aaliyah replied with a smirk.

Azzi caught the comment but didn’t react having no idea what they were talking about.

…

Azzi and Paige had just finished an intense workout. They worked through it together in silence for the most part with the occasional high five or pay on the back. The gym was eerily quiet at this hour, with only the hum of the overhead lights and their heavy breaths filling the space. Both of them were seated on the floor, backs resting against the padded wall, their bodies dripping with sweat.

Paige let her head fall back for a moment, staring up at the ceiling before finally looking at Azzi. “Thanks,” she said, her voice softer than usual.

Azzi glanced over at her, slightly caught off guard. It wasn’t the thank-you that surprised her—it was the way Paige was actually looking at her. For the first time, there wasn’t a guarded or dismissive edge in her expression, just sincerity.

It threw Azzi off balance for a second, and without thinking, she blurted out, “Woah your eyes are blue.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping her lips. “They sure are,” she said, amused.

Azzi shook her head, laughing at herself. “I just mean, I never noticed before,” she admitted. “Probably because you’re always glaring at me the few times you actually address me.”

Paige laughed again, the sound lighter than Azzi expected. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I know I can be... a bit much sometimes.”

Azzi shrugged, brushing it off.

They sat in comfortable silence for a beat before Azzi tapped her phone screen, the faint glow illuminating the time. “So, you wanna tell me why we’re in the gym at...” she squinted at the numbers, “1:47 a.m. on a Wednesday?”

Paige glanced at her, the corners of her mouth quirking up slightly. “I know why I’m here. You wanna tell me why you decided to join me?”

Azzi leaned her head back against the wall, smirking. “I knew they wouldn’t let you come if I didn’t. Plus, like I said earlier, there’s some things we need to work on.”

“Like what?” Paige asked, her curiosity piqued.

Azzi turned to face her more directly, her expression serious but still teasing. “Like you passing the ball where I’m going instead of where I am.”

Paige rolled her eyes, a playful scoff escaping her. “I’m a great passer.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing. “And I’m the best shooter in the country. I move a lot. You need to figure out where I’m going to be, not just where I currently am.”

Paige blinked at her, processing the critique. Her lips twitched like she wanted to argue, but instead, she let out a small laugh, nodding slightly as she thought about it.

Azzi stood up, brushing off her shorts before grabbing the ball that sat nearby. She spun it in her hands and tilted her head toward the court. “Come on,” she said, motioning for Paige to follow her.

Paige smiled despite herself, pushing up from the floor. “Fine,” she said, her tone mock-defeated.

Azzi grinned. “Let’s see if you’re as great as you claim you are.”

Paige laughed, jogging after her toward the court, the tension between them starting to ease in the quiet rhythm of the game.

Paige and Azzi stood at the top of the key, the ball in Paige’s hands as Azzi explained what she’d meant earlier.

“You follow my eyes, just like everyone else,” Azzi said, dribbling the ball before passing it to Paige. “But my eyes don’t always tell you where I’m going. You’ve gotta look at my movements instead.”

Paige nodded slowly, absorbing the critique. She dribbled the ball once, then shifted her stance. “Alright,” she said, her voice intrigued. “Let’s run through it.”

They started with basic passes, Paige watching Azzi closely. Some were spot-on, hitting Azzi perfectly in stride. Others lagged slightly behind, forcing Azzi to pause or adjust.

“See?” Azzi said after one of those off passes, tossing the ball back to Paige. “You’re looking at where I am. You’ve gotta watch my hands.”

Paige tilted her head, brow furrowing. “Your hands?”

“Yeah,” Azzi said, holding them up. “My hands show you where I’m going to end up. Pay attention, and you’ll see it.”

Paige bounced the ball a couple of times, nodding. “Alright, let’s try again.”

They went through the drill several more times, Paige focusing on Azzi’s hands like she’d suggested. Slowly but surely, the passes started to click. Paige began to notice the subtle flicks of Azzi’s fingers or the way her hand angled before she cut. After a while, the passes were seamless, their movements flowing together effortlessly.

“See?” Azzi said, catching another perfect pass in stride. “Told you.”

Paige smirked, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face. “Guess you were right.”

“Always am,” Azzi teased, tossing the ball back.

The two of them had been running the same drill for what felt like forever. Paige’s passes were sharper now, landing perfectly in Azzi’s hands as she moved seamlessly through her cuts. The flow of their movements had become natural, like they’d been doing this together for years.

Azzi caught the ball mid-stride and jogged back to the top of the key, bouncing it casually. “You know it’s almost three, right?” she said, glancing at the clock.

Paige paused, hands resting on her hips. “They’re going to kill you for letting me stay this late,” she said, half-smirking. “You’re supposed to be the responsible one, remember?”

Azzi shrugged, her lips curving into a small smile. “They never said what time you had to leave,” she replied. “All they said was that it was supposed to be team bonding.” She held the ball out toward Paige. “I’d say we bonded a little bit. Plus,” she added, her smile widening, “we haven’t argued the whole time we’ve been here, so that’s a win.”

Paige chuckled, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the hem of her shirt. “Guess you’ve got a point.” She reached out and took the ball from Azzi. “And for the record, I wouldn’t call you responsible. You’re just as bad as me for sticking around this long.”

Azzi laughed softly, leaning back against the padded wall at the baseline. “Maybe. But if you didn’t notice, I’m not the one who dragged us here in the middle of the night.”

Paige shot her a playful glare, bouncing the ball a couple of times. “Fair enough. But you didn’t exactly put up a fight about it either.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “Because I saw how tense you were and someone had to make sure you didn’t overdo it. Like I said—team bonding.”

Paige shook her head, laughing under her breath as she lined up a shot. The ball arced perfectly through the air, swishing cleanly through the net. “Fine,” she said, turning to Azzi. “But if they ask, this was your idea.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, pushing off the wall. “Yeah, sure. I’m sure they’ll believe that.” She walked over and retrieved the ball, tossing it back to Paige.

For a moment, they stood there in the quiet gym, the weight of the night settling between them. Paige glanced at Azzi, a hint of gratitude in her expression. “Thanks, by the way. For coming with me.”

Azzi shrugged, though her smile softened. “Don’t mention it.”

Paige held the ball, debating for a second. Then she smirked. “One more run?”

Azzi sighed, shaking her head with a chuckle. “Fine. But only one more.”

“Promise,” Paige said, already moving to her spot.

Azzi jogged to hers, the exhaustion fading as they fell back into the rhythm they’d built over the past few hours. It was definitely more than one run through.

[fruitbasketball]

paige didn’t have a historic freshman year though. what was historic about it, except her winning npoy? (which, let’s be real was mostly given to her bc she had so much hype as they were gunning for her to be the next Sabrina and she was at UConn) they only played like one non con game all season because it was Covid, so yeah, I’m gonna bring up the Arizona game because it was one of the only real tests for that team and they… failed

oh this is such bullshit

you can’t be saying this in good faith my guy. there’s no way you really think paige didn’t have a monster freshman season 😭

we can just look at the raw stats buddy - she was averaging 20/5/6 on 52/46/87 splits. 46% from the field. she’s averaging more points as a freshman than maya moore her first three years, more assists than sue bird her first three years, shooting the 3 ball more efficiently than diana taurasi her ENTIRE uconn career. she’s shooting 46% from 3 bro, what are we TALKING about??

go ahead and bring up the arizona game!!! tattoo it on your ass cheeks if you want!!! GANGO. I DO NOT GAF. because then i’m gonna drag out the tennessee game and the arkansas game and the south carolina game and the syracuse game and the BAYLOR GAME because WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE TALKING ABOUT???????

ARIZONA was the only real test??? righttt so the tennessee team with jordan horston and rae burrell that they played and beat “wasn’t a real test”. gotcha.

and then when they played a ranked arkansas team (who they lost to) and paige dropped 27 on their heads on 66% shooting and 100% from the arc, that also didn’t count, right?

oh but surely south carolina, who with that EXACT SAME ROSTER would go on to win a national championship (AB, zia, henny) wasn’t a REAL test right??? and when paige drops 31 fucking points on their heads - we can’t see, we’re blind, huh???

but BAYLOR in the elite 8 - now THAT was a mickey mouse team, right? between nalyssa smith, dijonai carrington, didi richards, queen egbo, all led by kim fucking mulkey - that’s not a real test tho. no, we don’t get that until ARIZONA - so the team full of players that are allllll on a current wnba roster, a team that WON THE CHIP two years prior and then ADDED PIECES… nahhhh nah nah that’s light work. so when paige drops 28 points on they head, shit’s not historic.

APPARENTLY.

so then, when she wins ap poty, that’s bc of the HYPE. righttttt right right. okay so she beats out aari mcdonald bc she’s got more hype around her and she’s the freshman phenom and all this and all that.

so surely - when she wins usbwa player of the year, and espnw player of the year, and then she wins the naismith trophy, and the wooden award, and the espy for best female college athlete, when she’s on the ap, usbwa, wbca first team, and she is the first freshman in the HISTORY OF THE NCAA to win national player of the fucking year… that’s not a historic season.

i don’t understand this logic. i really don’t get it. why are y’all so mad about this girl being so damn good at what she does?? why are we on the lord’s internet LYING THROUGH OUR TEETH??? the problem with cherry-picking stats and overlooking critical games is that someone’s gonna know that shit better than you. and then you get in somebody inbox looking foolish as hell 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 thank u next good lord

[azzibuckets]

For the Love of the Game [Pazzi | Part 10/10]

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

summary: the end 🙏

a/n: decided to combine the last two chapters into one! don’t mind the abrupt ending

word count: 2.1k

masterlist w/ all parts

“You and Paige played together on the U16 and U17 USA Basketball teams, where you guys won a championship at the 2018 FIBA World Cup. Has there been a noticeable difference in your on-court chemistry from USA Baskerball to UConn after the development of your more personal relationship?”

Azzi stared at Leo blankly. “With Paige’s ACL, we haven’t gotten many opportunities to play together yet, so I wouldn’t know.”

Leo raised her eyebrows expectantly. When Azzi crossed her arms and looked away, refusing to speak anymore, she sighed in frustration and clicked her pen. “Okay…” she drawled out. Her eyes scanned her notes for the next question. “Paige was the first freshman to win the AP and Naismith Player of the Year. Although she’s still an underclassman, it would be fair to say she has a lot of valuable experience and natural leadership. What have you personally learned from Paige?”

“That she’s a fuck ass bitch,” Azzi whispered under her breath.

Leo leaned forward. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” Azzi smiled charmingly at the blinking red dot on the camera. “Paige definitely makes her presence known on the court.“ She paused, gathering her thoughts. Leo sent her an encouraging smile, her pen finally scribbling for the first time in the entire interview.

Azzi thought back to the way Paige had used to speak to her, both in their time playing together at USA Basketball and in the months leading up to their agreement. “It’s the fact that you can’t shoot a mid ranger without getting the ball turned over. These are basic foundations of basketball, Fudd. You’re playing college ball now. It’s time to grow up.” Paige had spat, months earlier. Azzi pursed her lips, her anger further fueled from the words they’d thrown at each other in the hospital bathroom the week before. “If she sees a weakness or a flaw in your play, she won’t hesitate to point it out. She likes having her way with things.” Leo’s smile slowly faded. “She has a whole system set up at UConn, and if you dare challenge it, she’ll make you regret it.” By the end of her rant, Azzi was rigid in her seat, the tips of her ears on fire as she riled herself up.

Leo’s pen slowly started moving. She aggressively slammed down her pen and paused the camera. “We can’t use that!”

Azzi looked innocently at her. “Why not?”

“No one is gonna watch this film and think you guys are dating with the way you’re speaking about her,” Leo scowled.

Azzi rolled her eyes. “I doubt Paige said anything positive about me either. Why can’t you just bin the interviews and work with the segments you already have?”

“No, she didn’t,” Leo answered roughly. “Paige gave great answers. You’re the one that’s hard to work with.”

Azzi’s leg stopped jittering. “What do you mean great answers?”

Leo clicked away on her laptop before swiveling it around to face the dark haired girl. “Watch,” she demanded, pressing play.

The video was dark and muted at first, until someone adjusted the camera and it showed Paige, sitting in one of those director’s cameras. A mic was attached to the collar of her jersey, and her hair was pinned up in her signature two braids and ponytail. Azzi’s heart ached. This was her first time seeing Paige since their incident in the bathroom, and she looked good. Better than good. She’d obviously recovered well from her surgery; her skin was glowing and the bags under her eyes were lighter than normal. Her deep blue eyes were sparkling, and she looked in a good mood.

Leo’s voice filtered in from off camera. “What do you like about Azzi?”

Paige smiled uneasily. “Basketball wise or uh,” she shifted in her seat, “girlfriend wise?”

“Both.”

“Well, in terms of basketball, I don’t really have to speak for her,” Paige laughed all nervous, and Azzi could feel her blood pumping faster through her veins. “I mean, everyone knows how good she is. She has a killer pull-up and unlimited range. Her jump shot is perfect, and she’s lethal with her catch and shoot threes.”

At that moment, Leo cut in. “Many people have been saying that with you out, UConn suffers a major drawback. Are you worried about the position of your team without your guidance on the court?”

Paige’s expression changed. “I hear that, and I understand that, but honestly, I’m not as worried as people think I am. Each player on the team is a valuable asset. If we’re talking about Azzi, she’s been putting in extra work to expand her offensive role ever since my injury. I’ve been watching her at practice, and let’s just say, I think that other teams should be even more scared of UConn this upcoming season.”

Azzi felt like someone had just dumped an entire bucket of ice water on her head. What was Paige saying? She’d expected Paige to be condescending, that of course the team was going to suffer badly without her, to laugh at the idea that Azzi would be able to compensate for her loss. But here Paige was, talking about Azzi like she’d hung the damn moon.

Leo’s voice on the video brought her back to attention. “Now, what about personally? You and Azzi have been recently named the ‘it couple’ of women’s baseball, even despite your…” Leo hesitated as she searched for the right word, “tumultuous history. We’d love to learn about what you appreciate about who fans have dubbed as the people’s princess.”

Paige smiled tightly. Azzi noticed her tapping her finger against the side of her leg, a nervous tic that not many people knew she had. “Azzi is a really good person.”

“Can you expand on that?”

Paige’s eyes focused on her lap. “She’s very selfless. Especially in the beginning, I struggled a lot mentally with my injury. Basketball means the world to me, and not being able to play it is devastating. But Azzi, you know, she’s torn her ACL before. She was there for me in the whole process, driving me to rehab sessions and making sure I always ate and doing stupid things with me to get my mind off my knee.” A faint smile flickered on the blonde’s lips as she thought to herself. “I probably wouldn’t have survived it without her.”

Azzi swallowed, trying to dissipate the knot forming in her throat. She’d been so furious at Paige just moments before - for minimizing her struggle to find her sexual identity, for trying to make their situation and her feelings so black and white when everything was a muddled grey for her. And now, Azzi was positively vibrating, like she was a little schoolgirl whose crush had just complimented her.

“You see?” Leo shut her laptop, giving Azzi a pointed look. “This is what we’re aiming for.”

Azzi rubbed her palms together, thinking. Paige had callen her confusing, but right now, Paige was the confusing one. She’d essentially told Azzi to go away and never speak to her again, and then pulled shit like this. How could Azzi stay away from her when Paige was putting her name on a banner and waving it for everyone to see?

———————

Paige studied the notepad of plays in front of her. When the circles and xs and lines started blurring together on the paper from her staring at it so hard, she exhaled, letting her eyes shut for a moment.

“Hey,” Geno said gently from besides her. “Stop stressing. The girls got it.”

Paige nodded, looking up to watch her team as they warmed up for the season opener. Every bone in her body itched to be out there, stretching and warming up her shots with her girls. But she couldn’t, and right now she had to trust her team. Besides, she had an important job out here too. She’d helped draw up half of these plays, going over the strategy and who to place where in order to maximize each player’s individual talents and get as many points as possible.

Her eyes fell on Azzi. She looked nervous for her first official debut of her college career, and Paige wanted to mentally send her a message - to tell her to keep her chin up, to play as hard as possible and show everyone why she was the #1 high school recruit of her class. But Paige knew that talking to Azzi now for the first time in a month would probably heighten the girl’s nerves even more, so she kept her mouth shut, forcing herself to look away.

At half time of the game, Azzi had already scored 10 points, but Paige could tell that she was off. The crowds in the stands were large and loud, even for a season opener, and she could tell it was getting to the younger girl’s head by the way she kept missing shots she normally would’ve aced.

Someone tapped Paige’s shoulder from behind her. She turned around and saw a few guys sitting together who looked like they attended UConn. “Hey,” one of them nodded. “You miss being part of the action?”

Paige liked talking to fans, but right now she wanted to focus on the game, so she only gave a quick nod in response before turning around.

Soon, another tap came. Trying not to roll her eyes, she turned around again. “Yes?”

“It looks like your team needs you,” one of the guys chuckled, his eyes fixed on the court. Paige followed his gaze to the girls playing, and right on cue, Azzi sailed another shot. Paige’s heart lurched as the younger girl bit her lip and sprinted back to defense, a hollow look in her eyes.

“You carry the team, bro. Number 35 just missed again. You might need to give her some pointers.” The guy grinned at her, as if what he’d said was a compliment. Then, as if he couldn’t get any more audacity, he whipped out a Sharpie and dropped it on her lap. “By the way, can you sign my jersey?”

Paige stared in disbelief at the Sharpie before she picked it up and threw it at his face. She felt a sadistic sense of satisfaction as the Sharpie hit the guy right in the eye and he howled, hands going to up to massage the area.

“I’m not signing any of your shit,” she growled. “Number 35 has a name, and Azzi Fudd would drop 20 on your sorry ass any day.” With that, she turned around, fury pulsing through her veins and enlivening her senses. She secretly applauded herself for having the self control not to punch the living daylights out of that guy right then and there.

Thankfully, Azzi seemed to get ahold of her nerves after Geno’s inspiring speech at half, going on to score 10 additional points while barely missing any more shots, an impressive performance for a freshman debut. The game ended with Aaliyah pulling through to hit the game-winning buzzer beater.

Deciding that was cause for celebration, the team decided to go to Tim’s for drinks together after. Paige went straight to the bar as soon as they arrived, ordering a Shirley Temple. When she turned around, she came face to face with the guys from the game earlier.

“Hey,” one of them smirked. “Go tell your lesbo girlfriend good job for me. She looked a little rusty tonight but if you give her my number I can help her with that.” Laughing, he threw a crumpled up piece of paper at Paige, hitting her in the chest, and that’s when everything went red.

Flinging her crutches to the side, Paige moved towards him with a ferocity she’d never felt, grabbing the collar of his shirt. “Listen here, motherfucker,” she hissed. “Clearly your mother didn’t teach you any manners so I guess it’s up to me.” She let go, and the guy stumbled back, fear in his eyes. Then she reared her first back and punched him.

The guy cried out in pain, blood gushing from his nose. Incensed, his friends turned on Paige. “Come on,” she becked her hands at them. “Give me all you’ve got.” The guy she’d hit with the Sharpie earlier lunged towards her, but before he could reach her, hands grabbed Paige’s hips and pulled her back.

“What the fuck are you doing?” A familiar voice growled into her ear, restraining Paige as her other teammates rushed to intervene.

“I was giving them what they deserved,” Paige said bitterly, turning away from the scene. She shook out her hand, her knuckles aching.

“In case you haven’t noticed, there’s three of them and one of you.” Azzi forcefully moved Paige’s hips so that they were facing each other now. “What the hell has gotten into you?”

“Azzi! Take Paige away before she does any more damage,” Nika demanded as one of the guys she was pushing away started spitting curses at Paige.

Azzi grabbed Paige’s crutches, marching her off to the bathroom. She slammed the door behind them, anger evident in the slanting of her eyebrows and flattening of her mouth. “Are you serious, Paige? Getting into fights at the bar? You could get a suspension for this!”

“It doesn’t matter.” Paige fixed her eyes on the peeling paint on the wall. “I can’t even play anyways.”

“You said you don’t need my help.” Azzi paced back and forth angrily. “But here you are, throwing yourself at the hands of three grown men.”

“I didn’t need your help. I had the situation under control,” Paige said coldly.

Azzi grabbed Paige’s shoulders, shaking them. “You’re in crutches, Paige. You can barely even move. I get that you’re frustrated with your injury but you can’t just ignore it!” Azzi slumped against the sink, her head in her hands. “Why’d you even start attacking them anyways? Nothing is worth putting yourself in danger like that.”

You’re worth it, Paige thought. But she stayed quiet, hoping Azzi’s anger would blow over.

“Are you serious? You’re not even gonna tell me what started this whole thing?” Azzi threw up her hands in exasperation. “Is this what you’re like now? Being all moody and mysterious and hitting people whenever you feel like it? I don’t even know you anymore.”

Paige clenched and unclenched her fist. The soreness was starting to get her. Azzi must’ve noticed, because she took her hand and examined it.

“It’s gonna bruise,” Azzi said, her voice now soft.

Paige shrugged.

Sighing, Azzi gently led Paige’s hand under the faucet. She gently washed away the blood on her knuckles. Paige flinched - not at the pain, but from the all too familiar feeling of Azzi’s fingers touching her.

Azzi managed to find some bandages after rummaging through the cabinets. She slowly wrapped the gauze around Paige’s knuckles, her touch sending electric sparks through Paige’s hand. Neither of them spoke as Azzi patched her up, the tension in the air thick.

Paige swallowed, the silence becoming overbearing. “They were saying things about you.”

Azzi’s eyes shot up, her hand stilling. “What?”

Paige ducked her head, avoiding her stare. “The guys. They were at the game and making stupid comments the entire time, and I mostly ignored them.” She huffed. “But then they came here, and when they said something else, I just lost it.”

Azzi’s jaw clenched. She finished wounding the bandage, but she didn’t let go of Paige’s hand, and Paige didn’t move either. “I don’t need you defending my honor,” Azzi said quietly. Her thumb brushed once against Paige’s knuckles. “People like those guys are always gonna talk. It’s better to just ignore them and not give them what they want.”

Paige grunted, clearly not heeding Azzi’s words.

Azzi’s lips parted. “I miss you.”

Paige grinded her teeth.

“And I know you miss me too.” Azzi put her finger under Paige’s chin, forcing her to make eye contact. “I watched your interview with Leo.”

Paige cursed. “I told her not to show you that.”

“I would’ve seen it eventually, once she published her film.” Azzi studied the blonde’s face, memorizing the features she’d missed so much. Her long eyelashes, the way they fluttered. The wrinkle in the corner of her eyebrow. The turn of her pretty pink lips.

“I know you’re angry that I couldn’t tell you what I wanted. I was still figuring myself out. And these past few weeks, I’ve been working at it. Trying to come to terms with my sexuality.” Azzi took a deep breath, stepping closer. Paige’s hands instinctively went down, brushing the younger girl’s waist as the distance between them grew closer.

“I think I’m bi,” Azzi breathed out. “And if you can’t respect that, then I don’t think we can be together. But I don’t think my sexuality was the issue. I think that you were hurting, and you were impatient, and you wanted an immediate answer, and when I couldn’t give that to you, you ran away.”

Paige’s eyebrows furrowed.

“We’re killing each other, P,” Azzi whispered. “It’s torture not being able to see you and kiss you every day. And you’re obviously not coping with it any better than I am.” She brought her hands to cup Paige’s face, pressing their foreheads together. Paige relaxed, leaning into her touch.

“I need you, Paige,” Azzi begged. “I need us.”

Paige’s heart erupted, and she closed the gap between them, bringing her lips to Azzi’s and pulling her in for a bruising kiss. Azzi gasped, but recovered quickly, tangling her hands into Paige’s hair.

“‘M sorry,” Paige breathed as soon as they broke apart. “I was so awful. I should’ve never made you feel stupid for trying to figure out your sexuality.” She bit her lip, anguish in her eyes. “It’s just always been so easy for me. I’ve always known I liked girls. I was being hot-headed and I didn’t consider how you were feeling.”

Azzi laughed. “Yeah, that was pretty shitty of you. But I did some selfish shit too.” She nudged her nose with Paige’s. “And I think it’d be fair to call us even.”

Paige trailed her hands up Azzi’s sides. “What I told you at my surgery was complete bullshit. You’re always on my mind, driving me fuckin’ insane. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I know. Getting into fights and everything. A little part of me is flattered,” Azzi joked. Paige groaned in embarrassment, hiding her face in the crease of Azzi’s neck. Azzi brought her hands up to rub her back in calming circles. “Everything’s over. We went on the Europe trip, where you ignored me the whole time,” she laughed at that. “And Leo’s done with her film. She’s set to submit it tomorrow.”

Paige nodded, drawing back to look Azzi in the eye. “No more of this fake dating shit. I want you to be my girl for real.” She tenderly caressed Azzi’s cheek, not believing how someone as beautiful and kind as Azzi could want someone like her. “I meant everything I said in the interview, ya know? About how talented you are at basketball and how selfless you are in real life.”

“I know,” Azzi whispered, “I know.”

“I’m gonna take you on a date,” Paige rambled. “A good fucking date. The best date you’ve ever had. Gonna make you forget about all the other girls you’ve ever been with.”

“That sounds great, baby,” Azzi giggled softly, her hand playing with the wisps of hair at the base of Pige’s neck.

“Gonna make you fall in love with me,” Paige mumbled, her head dropping on Azzi’s shoulder. Azzi smiled. You already have, she thought silently.

[philogyny08]

Paige Bueckers’ Incredible Story and Lifestyle

Paige Bueckers, born in Edina, Minnesota, showed early talent in various sports but focused on basketball. In high school, she excelled, leading her team to multiple victories and setting records. She joined UConn and quickly made her mark, becoming the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award. Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, she showed exceptional determination. Off the court, she pursued lucrative sponsorship deals, achieving an impressive net worth. Known as "Paige Buckets," she also focuses on social justice and giving back to the community. Her success marks her as a phenomenal athlete and a significant influencer in the business world.

[mydaddywiki]

Bob Knight

Physique: Stocky Build Height: 6’ 5" (1.96 m)

Robert Montgomery Knight (October 25, 1940 – November 1, 2023) was an American men's college basketball coach. Nicknamed "the General", Knight won 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball games, a record at the time of his retirement, and currently fifth all-time. Knight was best known as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000. He also coached the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2001–2008) and Army Black Knights (1965–1971). While at Indiana, Knight led his teams to three NCAA championships, one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship, and 11 Big Ten Conference championships.

A tall, handsome silver daddy known as much for his tirades against players, referees and reporters as for his coaching brilliance. His trademark temper also cost him his job at Indiana in 2000. He once hit a police officer in Puerto Rico, threw a chair across the court and was accused of wrapping his hands around a player’s neck. But Knight remained "the object of near fanatical devotion" from many of his former players and Indiana fans.

Twice married with two sons from the first, I bet the sex with him would have been awesome. Profane filled angry sex. I mean look at him, you rarely see a smile on him. Just a bitter old man type. But I bet when it’s all done, I’d get a smile out of him. Knight, the brilliant and combustible Hall of Fame coach who won three NCAA titles at Indiana and for years was the scowling face of college basketball, died on November 1, 2023, at the age of 83.

Head Coaching Record Overall 902–371 (.709)

Accomplishments and Honors Championships As player: NCAA champion (1960) As head coach: 3× NCAA Division I champion (1976, 1981, 1987), 5× Final Four (1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992), 11× Big Ten regular season (1973–1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993), CCAT (1974), NIT (1979)

Awards: 2× Henry Iba Award (1975, 1989), Naismith College Coach of the Year (1987), 3× AP Coach of the Year (1975, 1976, 1989), Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award (2002), 5× Big Ten Coach of the Year (1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1989), Naismith Award for Men's Outstanding Contribution to Basketball (2007)

Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1991

College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Dr. James Naismith (6 November 1861 – 28 November 1939), the inventor of basketball, practiced with his wife in 1928.

In 1891, 31-year-old Canadian graduate student James Naismith needed to solve a problem in Springfield, MA, where he worked as a gym teacher at a YMCA (now Springfield College).

His students, forced indoors because of winter, had become rowdy and needed a way to stay in shape.

They had a lot of energy but no way to burn it off. It was too cold to play football and baseball, and too dangerous to play those sports in the gym.

The school asked Naismith to invent a new indoor sport. Naismith remembered a rock-tossing game he played as a child.

How about a game where players threw a ball at a target? The team that tossed the most balls into the target would win.

Naismith called his new game "basketball" and wrote up 13 rules. Two peach baskets and a soccer ball were the equipment.

Naismith put the baskets at each end of the gym, nailed 10 feet above the floor.

The teams each had nine players. Naismith threw the ball in the air for the first tipoff.

On 21 December 1891, the game of basketball was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The new sport quickly grew in popularity. Naismith's students went on to become teachers and coaches, spreading the game.

Teams sprung up at high schools and colleges. Boys and girls across the nation began playing basketball.

Basketball became an Olympic sport in 1936.

For the first Olympic basketball game, Naismith tossed the ball for the tipoff.

The game James Naismith invented as a winter "distraction" had turned into a global sport.

[lboogie1906]

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (born June 25, 1966) is a former basketball player. He played 18 seasons in the NBA. He has become well known for his humanitarian work.

He began his career with the Georgetown Hoyas, and is regarded as one of the best-shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times; he was an eight-time All-Star. He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the second most prolific shot blocker in NBA history and he averaged a double-double for most of his career.

After the 2009 NBA playoffs, he announced his retirement. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. His father worked as a school principal and then in Congo’s Department of Education. Mutombo speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and five Central African languages, including Lingala and Tshiluba. He is a member of the Luba ethnic group. He decided to work on his basketball career. He moved to the US in 1987 to enroll in college.

His older brother, Ilo, began playing college basketball for the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles. The brothers played against each other in a 1990 game at the Capital Centre.

He married Rose and they have three children together. They adopted four children from Rose’s deceased brothers. His son, Ryan, was ranked as the 16th-best center in high school and committed in 2021 to play at Georgetown.

He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York College at Cortland for his humanitarian work in Africa. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Georgetown University.

A well-known humanitarian, he started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. He participated in the Basketball Without Borders NBA program. He paid for uniforms and expenses for the Zaire women’s basketball team during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. He is a spokesman for the international relief agency, CARE and is the first youth emissary for the UN Development Program. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[caitlinclark]

@NaismithTrophy: 🚨ATTENTION🚨: Caitlin Clark is the 2024 @jerseymikes Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year🔥

[female-buckets]

With 23 former players sitting behind the bench, No. 15 Notre Dame overcame a 12-point first-half deficit and pulled away late for an 82-67 victory over eighth-ranked UConn before a raucous sellout crowd at Gampel Pavilion.

"They were behind the bench, not on the bench unfortunately," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "It was pretty emotional when they were playing the video before the game, especially of the 2003 and 2004 teams. There was a real emotional moment when I was talking to Dee about it. Some of these players I haven't seen in 10-12 years. Others you see more often. It was an emotional weekend. The connections they have with each other and this program are pretty unique. Dee said at one point that when you're in it, when you're here, you don't realize it. Sometimes you have to come back to try and put it in perspective."

Ten players — including Taurasi and her original recruiting class of Ashley Battle, Maria Conlon, Jessica Moore, and Morgan Valley — returned from the 2003-04 group.

The former and current players along with the coaching staff had dinner together Friday night.

"I haven't been back on campus in about eight years," Taurasi said. "I haven't been inside of Gampel for like 16 years. It's always great to be here. Last night at dinner was great and just to see everyone ... Twenty years later, my whole original class was back. Ten years later, Stewie's whole class was back. There's that thread that brings all of us together, no matter what era or generation you played in. It's pretty cool. You're part of a club that's select."

After seniors Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, and Tamika Williams graduated from UConn's 2002 39-0 club, the 2003 Huskies continued the national championship reign. Taurasi was the consensus national Player of the Year and UConn won its first 31 games — setting an NCAA record with a 70-game winning streak — before losing in the Big East tournament final to Villanova. The Huskies rebounded to return to the Final Four and beat Texas and Tennessee in Atlanta for the title and become the first national championship team without a senior on the roster.

Their 2004 season proved to be more rocky. While they won another Big East regular-season title, they were beaten by Boston College in the tournament semifinals, the only time since 1994 the Huskies have not appeared in the conference tournament championship game. They were a No. 2 NCAA seed for only the second time since 1994 but beat Penn State in the regional final at the Hartford Civic Center and then Minnesota and Tennessee in New Orleans to complete a three-peat for themselves and the sweep with the men. Taurasi was the Naismith Award winner and Final Four Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year.

"It seems like it was just yesterday," said Ann Strother, who was named to the all-Final Four team in both championship seasons she played. "I look back and I have three kids, my teammates have kids, and you realize that time has passed. But we're still one big family."

The 2003 and 2004 teams were inducted into the Huskies of Honor in December, 2013.

The teams stood side by side during a pregame ceremony and Auriemma turned to Taurasi.

"I asked her if her team those two years played the team on the other side, who would win," Auriemma said. "She said, 'The other team is stacked.' I said, 'Yeah, they have six All-Americans. You guys have one.' That made the championships those two years even more remarkable." (continue reading)

[classifieds-marketing-news]

Auburn, Iowa State, and Duke are the top teams in the most recent men's basketball Power 37 rankings.

At the start of the year, several topics are at the forefront of discussions. Five key points to consider: 1. Freshman Cooper Flagg is a strong contender for the Naismith Award, potentially becoming the first freshman to win since Zion Williamson in 2019. The competition includes Johni Broome from Auburn, who may pose a challenge despite recovering from an ankle injury. Flagg's outstanding performance has garnered attention, showcasing his all-around skills on the court. 2. The Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC are showcasing strength in numbers, leading to an increase in NCAA Tournament bids. The potential formation of a super conference involving the Pac-12 and Mountain West could have bolstered the Western teams' competitiveness. 3. Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. led the Bulldogs to consecutive victories in the America East conference, demonstrating resilience after a tough non-conference performance. 4. Saint Louis is making a strong statement in the A-10 conference, with key players contributing to the team's success against tough opponents. 5. The SEC is proving to be a challenging conference, with unexpected outcomes causing shifts in team rankings and performance. Despite early losses, teams like Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU, Texas, and South Carolina are still contenders for postseason events. In the latest rankings, teams like Auburn, Duke, Alabama, Florida, and Iowa State are leading the pack. The Power 37 list featuring top teams showcases the competitive landscape in college basketball. Keep an eye on upcoming games like Illinois vs. Michigan State and Kansas vs. Iowa State for exciting matchups. Looking ahead, key games to watch include Alabama at Kentucky and Auburn at Georgia, which could impact conference standings and NCAA Tournament bids. Stay tuned for thrilling matchups and potential upsets in the college basketball scene. #News #Auburn #Basketball #duke #Iowa #iowast #Mens #Power #Rankings #state #Teams #top https://tinyurl.com/2bu5cfy2

[theultimatefan]

AXIA TIME CELEBRATES THE 12-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF WITH COMMEMORATIVE, ULTRA-CUSTOM TIMEPIECES

AXIA Time, creator of ultra-custom Swiss Made timepieces, is celebrating this year’s College Football Playoff (CFP) by producing a limited number of watches commemorating the 12 teams in contention for the national championship.

College football fans can now purchase their favorite timepieces at axiatime.com. The collection includes two officially licensed designs — the Argos and the Lythos — for each school selected to compete in College Football Playoff. AXIA Time is only producing 200 timepieces per playoff team, split evenly between the two designs.

AXIA Time, the Official Timepiece of the College Football Playoff, unveiled designs for the top CFP hopefuls last month, allowing fans to reserve their limited-edition watches early. Confidence ran highest at Indiana University, Boise State and the University of Texas, whose watches received the most reservations out of all schools still in the hunt.

“Quality timepieces and great seasons are both something to wear proudly. Die-hard college football fans now have an heirloom made to meet the moment,” said AXIA Time founder John Kanaras. “We’re going to remember this dramatic and unpredictable season for decades to come. The stories of this year’s playoff field will be told and retold as fans pass down their AXIA Time watches through the generations. That’s exactly why we’re in this business.”

Each design has been approved by its respective school, featuring the team’s logo at 12 o’clock — premium space typically used for the watchmaker’s insignia — and eye-popping colorways. The CFP wordmark appears on the bottom half of the dial.

The Argos is powered by Sellita's SW200 Elabore grade movement, which boasts a power reserve of 38 hours, is water resistant to 300 meters, and features steel hands and applied indexes filled with X1 Super-Luminova — the highest performing grade of photoluminescent material used in watchmaking today. The Argos comes on a solid three-link 316L stainless steel bracelet with a micro-adjustable buckle and DLC coating. Premium touches include an etched repeating pattern with the CFP logo, "ROAD 2 ATLANTA" on the chapter ring, and custom engraving up to 50 characters.

The Lythos is crafted from premium components and powered by a Swiss Ronda 715 quartz movement with a 10-year battery. It comes in a 316L stainless steel case and bracelet — both with DLC coating. The top glass is sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and is water resistant to 100 meters. The dial of the Lythos steals the show with a sunray finish and etched repeating pattern featuring the CFP logo and a colorway specific to each school.

In addition to the fan watches, AXIA Time has also created an Argos timepiece exclusively for the players competing in the College Football Playoff. The players' style, which is not available to the general public, features a unique sunray dial, a sapphire crystal caseback, the CFP logo at 12 o’clock, and a subtle yet striking etched football pattern that radiates out from the dial's center.

Also, as the Official Timepiece of the Heisman Trophy, Official Timepiece of the prestigious Tewaaraton Awards for college lacrosse, and the Official Timepiece of the Naismith Award for college basketball, AXIA Time has scored with these elite athletes by creating personalized timepieces of exceptional quality to commemorate life's biggest achievements and most unforgettable moments.

See the CFP 2024-25 Timepiece collection to learn more about each design, including pricing, specifications and expected delivery details.

[pbaz7]

omg omg i'm here

Azzi and Paige's respective seasons had come to an end, though in completely different fashions.

oh god

AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year—the first freshman in history to earn both honors.

THATS MY GIRL

Paige believed it was her job to lead her team to a national championship

someone pls remind this girl there's a whole 14 person team behind her

While Azzi basked in the glow of a picture perfect end to her high school journey, Paige drowned herself in guilt and frustration.

oh.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called out.

AZZI IK THATS YOU

unsure if she should stay or leave

again I remind you that you're in a public place and Paige does not own wherever she goes

“Are we ever going to talk? You know, now that we’re going to be on the same team.”

CLOCK HER

“Seems like a pattern,” she muttered, just loud enough for Paige to hear.

CLOCKED HER AGAIN EVEN HARDER

“Not everything is about you, Azzi.”

do you like having fists in your face?

Just stop being pussy and admit it.”

DAMN AZZI LET HER GET UP

“I have the ego? You can’t be serious right now?”

OH MY GOD SHE JUST KEEPS SNATCHING HER WIG

I had a sloppy turnover

not her being THAT pissed over a singular turnover

Azzi, clearly offended. “You don’t know shit about me if you think I’m fine with mediocre Paige.”

CLOCKED CLOCKED AND THEN CLOCKED AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE

“No, I don’t need you guys checking in on me every five minutes. I’m not a kid.”

well you're surely acting like one!

Her shoulders sagged for a moment before she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and straightened up, spinning the ball in her hands as she made her way back to the court.

she's pissing me off but she's also just my sad little baby I just wanna give her a big hug

but her interactions with Azzi were nonexistent unless they were arguing during drills or scrimmages.

so sorry to be the bearer of bad news but y'all are going to have talk to each other if ur on the same team...

Paige rolled her eyes at Azzi’s comment , adjusting the strap of her backpack.

im not even gonna say it cuz author yk exactly what I'm thinking right now

“Why don’t you like me?” Azzi blurted out, the words cutting through the quiet.

finally we're getting something done here

Paige barely looked up from her paper. “I don’t not like you,” she replied, her tone not hinting at her emotion.

me when I lie

"Yeah, sure. That’s why you barely talk to me outside of practice.

clock it.

It just means I think you need to be better.”

someone's still pissed they lost...

Until you start playing like you know you’re the second-best player on this team, it’s not going to mean anything.”

LOL NOT THE SECOND BEST

“Azzi… I don’t not like you. Seriously.”

are we sure about that babe?

“Could’ve fooled me,” she muttered.

AZZI IS RELENTLESS MAN

Maybe Azzi would try her luck again at getting to know the blonde.

y'all will definitely know each other very well at the end of this!

Azzi spoke up, her voice cutting through the noise. “I’ll go with her.”

guys. who took azzi and replaced her with an identical clone but is nice to Paige?

“This is either going to end in a fistfight or... something we don’t want to know about.”

IM DEAD.

It threw Azzi off balance for a second, and without thinking, she blurted out, “Woah your eyes are blue.”

great observation! you should switch from basketball to professional observing school with that talent of yours!

Paige raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping her lips. “They sure are,” she said, amused.

she's so insightful

And I’m the best shooter in the country

YOU TELL HER LITTLE CURRY

You’ve gotta watch my hands

oh trust me I am

ok well our little children are starting to not hate each other which is great to see

author, once again I plead you to speed this up a tad

loved this and love you!!! -🍉

Azzi was dead ass clocking Paige the whole chapter so I’m glad you enjoyed it 😭😭.

You and this damn strap is killing me lmaoo

The speed up is coming trust!!! I loved your reaction like always 🫶🏼

Everybody might get another chap today just because of 🍉 so say thank you !!!

[fruitbasketball]

lol Caitlin has used her platform to shine a light on all the black women who pioneered the sport, and actually done so by name, unlike Paige who made a vague statement one time and has never spoken up again

and idk where you get she’s entitled, it seems like all she’s ever wanted to do is win a championship which is what every player in college wants to do. she doesn’t seem remotely concerned with personal accolades, unlike other programs overly concerned with their player being NPOY despite not actually earning it

oh rightttt like that time they asked her on national television if race played a factor in the media’s treatment of her versus their treatment of angel reese and she… didn’t answer the question, right?

or the time that sheryl swoopes (one of those black women who pioneered the sport) was being attacked by her fans, and caitlin blocked everyone on twitter reminding her that her fans are racist? she did a great job shining a light on black women then!

i just feel like we watched different espys speeches, because i remember a 19 year old paige bueckers getting on national television, recognizing that she’s a white woman in a black led sport, and NAME DROPPING black women who deserved/deserve media attention, like maya moore and odyssey alexander, as well as speaking out against police brutality by mentioning breonna taylor.

and maybe we’re a little new to this and we don’t know ball, but if you’ve been following women’s college basketball for the past 4 years, you would know that instance is not a one off, because paige has been speaking out for the black community for years.

what y’all aren’t realizing is that racism is not just calling her teammates slurs or saying she hates black people or shit like that - it’s a refusal to acknowledge that racism exists in the first place.

and don’t play fucking dumb. by entitled i mean the whole “im caitlin clark give me that whistle”. fuck outta here w that ‘npoy but hasn’t earned it’. lisa bluder consistently touts that she has “the best player in the country” or “in the world”. i know that’s a dig at geno, so let’s get one thing fucking straight: paige is the best player in america. and when you have 11 fucking rings, you have every right to get up on a presser and say that. you might not think so, because your very narrow minded view of the game probably cleared the rest of the stat sheet except for points. paige came back from a fucking acl tear and she’s still a first team all american, and she’s a wade and naismith trophy finalist. she fills the stat sheet in every single thing except turnovers and personal fouls, and she does it on ridiculous efficiency. she makes her teammates better, and dawn staley herself has said she’s the most elite player to ever play the game.

do not piss me off with this bullshit

[lordrakim]

Larry Johnson on UNLV vs. NCAA, Grandmama, Hornets and Knicks | ALL THE SMOKE

On today’s episode of ALL THE SMOKE, the legendary Larry Johnson shares incredible stories in front of a sold out NYC crowd.Johnson looks back on his time as one of the faces of college basketball at UNLV. He reflects on the Runnin’ Rebels blowout win over Duke in the 1990 NCAA Championship and winning the Naismith College Player of the Year in 1991. But it wasn’t all glory during his time at…

[northiowatoday]

Women's College Basketball: Iowa State's Audi Crooks makes Wade Trophy Watch List

AMES – Iowa State women’s basketball sophomore Audi Crooks completed the clean sweep of preseason National Player of the Year Watch Lists on Tuesday when the rising star was named to the “Wade Watch” for the 2025 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced. Crooks has already been named to the Preseason Watch Lists for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award this season. She…

[mydaddywiki]

Jerry West

Physique: Average Build Height: 6’ 3" (1.91 m)

Jerome Alan West (May 28, 1938 – June 12, 2024aged 86;) was an American basketball player and executive. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He excited fans during his playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and later enjoyed great success as an executive for the team. West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died on June 12, 2024, at the age of 86.

A native of Chelyan, West Virginia, West was known as a tenacious player who was rarely satisfied with his performance. West played the small forward position early in his career: he was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

His nicknames included "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being the basis for the NBA logo; "Mr. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a key situation such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "Mr. Outside", in reference to his perimeter play with the Lakers and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia.

West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in April 1960 in Morgantown; they divorced in 1976. They had three sons. Jerry married his second wife, Kristine "Karen" Bua, in 1978. They had two sons. What brought West to my attention was that he felt snubbed by Lakers owner, Jeanie Buss after she didn’t include him in her top-five most important Lakers of all-time. If it makes any difference Jerry, I think your the most important Lakers of all-time… that I want to fuck.