Azzi Confirms Return | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Azzi Confirms Return

Let's get real, for people like Paige and Azzi playing basketball money is not nor has it ever been the reason to stay at UConn or move on. If so Paige would be back next year, as the WNBA new contract after this season would give Paige a bigger boat load of bucks. However for Paige it is time to move on, she has reached every goal that is possible to reach save one. Her maturity on court is unmatched as is her skill, leaving only a National Championship on her wish list.
Azzi is in a much different plane, she now knows that she has to grow into a leadership roll, {Paige's job the days she was on the court}. If Azzi is to be team leader, she must put herself in that position, as Paige has for the last 4 years. Azzi must work on consistency, continue to improve her defense while taking a vocal role on the court. She is the heir apparent as leader, if the team accepts her in that role. Let's roll Azzi, lets role Huskies. She's back, good things to come.
 
azfan said:
NIL income greater than WNBA rookie contract. ESPN radio discuss this at length yesterday that the number of college athletes have a financial incentive to remain in college. Perhaps this is an example
Expand ...
Folks kind of don't get this right.

Option 1:
poor WNBA rookie salary $80000
plus sponsor fees as pro $3000000.
Total compensation $3,080,000.

Compared with

Option 2: improved rookie deal $240000
plus sponsor fees as pro $3000000.
Total compensation. $3,240,000.

For a player like Azzi with bigtime sponsors, WNBA player salary not so important.

For a relatively unknown player, rookie salary is more important as they may earn very little from sponsors.
 
packwrap said:
Folks kind of don't get this right.

Option 1:
poor WNBA rookie salary $80000
plus sponsor fees as pro $3000000.
Total compensation $3,080,000.

Compared with

Option 2: improved rookie deal $240000
plus sponsor fees as pro $3000000.
Total compensation. $3,240,000.

For a player like Azzi with bigtime sponsors, WNBA player salary not so important.

For a relatively unknown player, rookie salary is more important as they may earn very little from sponsors.
Expand ...
That same analysis applies to Paige, though last night she gave every indication that she was done.
 
I am swimming upstream here but i think the decision took awhile to get to.

She is healthy, has her undergraduate degree and a consensus top ten WNBA pick. Seeing what happened to JuJu I bet gave her pause to reconsider.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled she is back but there were definitely pros and cons to whatever she decided IMO.
 
A great decision for her and for UConn! while everyone knows she is a great shooter and player she needs to prove she can be a star (as well for the next level) and there is no reason why she will not make it happen when UConn will basically be hers next season.
For UConn it puts the team as a top 4 team next season with a lot more answers than questions.
 
MooseJaw said:
Let's get real, for people like Paige and Azzi playing basketball money is not nor has it ever been the reason to stay at UConn or move on. If so Paige would be back next year, as the WNBA new contract after this season would give Paige a bigger boat load of bucks. However for Paige it is time to move on, she has reached every goal that is possible to reach save one. Her maturity on court is unmatched as is her skill, leaving only a National Championship on her wish list.
Azzi is in a much different plane, she now knows that she has to grow into a leadership roll, {Paige's job the days she was on the court}. If Azzi is to be team leader, she must put herself in that position, as Paige has for the last 4 years. Azzi must work on consistency, continue to improve her defense while taking a vocal role on the court. She is the heir apparent as leader, if the team accepts her in that role. Let's roll Azzi, lets role Huskies. She's back, good things to come.
Expand ...
This is great news. Now if only Caroline could get healthy, we would have some great and unexpected assets on the 2026 team.
 
azfan said:
NIL income greater than WNBA rookie contract. ESPN radio discuss this at length yesterday that the number of college athletes have a financial incentive to remain in college. Perhaps this is an example
Expand ...
Again: they do not lose the NIL money by turning pro (not the NIL part of the "NIL money" -- someone like Alex Karaban could well be better off staying in college because that "NIL" money will be less than his G-league contract).

The financial issue here is will Azzi benefit from the new WNBA contract proving better rookie contracts? Where she would end up making more over those years than Paige.

But this is a good solid decision from a basketball perspective. She is not up to her standards at a college level yet -- it isn't the time to push it to a WNBA level.
 
dtbtbtb said:
A great decision for her and for UConn! while everyone knows she is a great shooter and player she needs to prove she can be a star (as well for the next level) and there is no reason why she will not make it happen when UConn will basically be hers next season.
For UConn it puts the team as a top 4 team next season with a lot more answers than questions.
Expand ...
I think Azzi would like to improve her reputation as "just a great shooter".
She is an excellent ball handler, she drives to the basket skillfully, & she is a lockdown defender. But she is a victim of her own remarkable sharpshooting skill.
 
Last edited:
Now I'll have to live another year (with pleasure).
I've been following my local girl since she was bumped up to the varsity in the 8th grade. Great player and great person.
Her return gives UConn another legitimate shot at an NC.
 
jaydee602 said:
I think Azzi would like to improve her reputation as "just a great shooter".
She is an excellent ball handler, she drives to the basket skillfully, & she is a lock defender. But she is a victim of her own remarkable sharpshooting skill.
Expand ...
I would think she'd want to get an AA award (get on that Wall of Honor, and maybe put her name up on some UCONN lists (pts/3pt FGs/3 pt FG%/FT%). Plus a NC or 2?
 
huskyd said:
Her return gives UConn another legitimate shot at an NC.
Expand ...
Yep. Geno will build next year's team with a core of KK, Azzi, Ashlynn, Sarah, with Jana/Ice holding down the 5 spot. Not a bad way to kick off your off-season rebuild knowing you have an upperclassmen laden starting five that have played a ton of minutes together with a pretty deep and versatile bench.
 
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