Paige, Azzi and the National Team

[SalinasV]

When I first saw that Azzi was joining Paige at UCONN, I thought this seems almost like Divine Right. They would take over the backcourt of the National team when Sue and Diana retired. Azzi was already the first sophomore to win the Gatorade Player of the Year award. And Paige would win the same award, and the first ever freshman to win College Player of the Year. What could possibly go wrong?

Paige is still likely to play a major role on the National team. And Azzi certainly could be there too, if she can play again like she did at the beginning of her second year, before she got injured. She could still be there with Paige, although it is not as certain as it once seemed.

A fact I just saw on her Wikipedia page that I was unaware of "She was named after Jennifer Azzi, a player whom her mother admired". I'm old so I remember Jennifer.

 

[MilfordHusky]

When I first saw that Azzi was joining Paige at UCONN, I thought this seems almost like Divine Right. They would take over the backcourt of the National team when Sue and Diana retired. Azzi was already the first sophomore to win the Gatorade Player of the Year award. And Paige would win the same award, and the first ever freshman to win College Player of the Year. What could possibly go wrong?

Paige is still likely to play a major role on the National team. And Azzi certainly could be there too, if she can play again like she did at the beginning of her second year, before she got injured. She could still be there with Paige, although it is not as certain as it once seemed.

A fact I just saw on her Wikipedia page that I was unaware of "She was named after Jennifer Azzi, a player whom her mother admired". I'm old so I remember Jennifer.

Yes, Katie named her daughter after Jen Azzi.

Azzi has dealt with multiple injuries, as we know. Let's see where her career goes from here. I started watching her in person when she was in 9th grade. She won multiple NPOY awards as a sophomore (split them with Haley Jones, I believe). I'd love to have my local girl make a comeback like her BFF Paige did last year. As a reminder, Rebecca Andrade, the stellar gymnast from Brazil, has come back from THREE ACL tears, so anything is possible.

In case folks have forgotten ...

 

[MilfordHusky]

 

[MilfordHusky]

 

[MilfordHusky]

Azzi as a 16-year-old NPOY in the City Championship game:



That game was played where the Mystics now play. Azzi's 38 is still the arena record.

 

[Bone Dog]

If Paige and Azzi make a dominant march to an NC and win a bunch of awards this year, this dream could come true. They could enter the W in subsequent years and become the flag bearers for their generation. Will we see an Olympic lineup featuring Paige Azzi Caitlin in 2028? Just avoid injury and it could happen.

 

[MilfordHusky]

 

[Skeets]

I certainly hope Paige and Azzi light it up, but team USA might have to play a 3 guard line up with a certain CC kid, who shall go nameless on this forum

 

[UcMiami]

I am just hoping that both Paige and Azzi are through with their respective injuries and can string together a few years of health. NT talk will have to wait for me.

 

[Bone Dog]

A fan forum isn’t about waiting. It’s about anticipation, hopes and dreams.

 

[cferraro04]

Paige is going to have the kind of year that as it goes along...you are going to catch yourself saying...I wish this would never end. The closer the season comes to ending the more that sense of loss will set in. She is truly a generational player who will actually get even better at the next level.

 

[Rowdy831]

I think Azzi will be the steal of the draft next season. Paige will be one of the first players taken, most likely the first player taken, but Azzi could be a later pick that has the value of a top 3-4 player. It will be an interesting year for sure.

 

[Bone Dog]

It looks like the current chances favor LA having the first pick. Not Dallas, thank goodness. Wouldn’t it be cool if the two of them ended up on the same team?

 

[yhun89]

It looks like the current chances favor LA having the first pick. Not Dallas, thank goodness. Wouldn’t it be cool if the two of them ended up on the same team?

Paige on LA would feed players on the court and families on the couch.

 

[Alydar]

Fudd would be a draw in DC.

If I ran the WNBA I'd put Bueckers and Clark on teams where they faced each other the most times.

 

[Aluminny69]

It looks like the current chances favor LA having the first pick. Not Dallas, thank goodness. Wouldn’t it be cool if the two of them ended up on the same team?

Why don't you think Paige will go to the expansion team, Golden State?

 

[Dillon77]

Why don't you think Paige will go to the expansion team, Golden State?

Primarily because the expansion team in the WNBA is not guaranteed the first pick.

 

[DefenseBB]

If Paige and Azzi make a dominant march to an NC and win a bunch of awards this year, this dream could come true. They could enter the W in subsequent years and become the flag bearers for their generation. Will we see an Olympic lineup featuring Paige Azzi Caitlin in 2028? Just avoid injury and it could happen.

OMG, the delusion on this forum at times is unbearable and totally illogical. Azzi has played 1 (ONE) full year since her sophomore year in HS. That’s 1 for 5. So can we see if she can complete a full year of college ball first, then see if she can attain the former HS elite level, then see if she can be an elite collegiate player over a full year and then see if she can be a dominant pro before anointing her to a National or Olympic team?
Yes, she had shown promise numerous times but injuries have taken a serious toll. Let her recuperate and try to regain her outstanding form before writing such drivel.

If anything should have taught the recent members of this forum, the off season over exuberance needs to be tempered. We have an unproven front court, we have to 3 new starters (with players who haven’t had the time on the court with Paige to understand how she sees the floor, makes passes or can set screens to help her Move without getting mauled) and here you are proclaiming an Olympic appearance in 4 years.

Again I like the post season optimism but jeesh, some modicum of logic has to be shown….

 

[Bone Dog]

OMG, the delusion on this forum at times is unbearable and totally illogical. Azzi has played 1 (ONE) full year since her sophomore year in HS. That’s 1 for 5. So can we see if she can complete a full year of college ball first, then see if she can attain the former HS elite level, then see if she can be an elite collegiate player over a full year and then see if she can be a dominant pro before anointing her to a National or Olympic team?
Yes, she had shown promise numerous times but injuries have taken a serious toll. Let her recuperate and try to regain her outstanding form before writing such drivel.

If anything should have taught the recent members of this forum, the off season over exuberance needs to be tempered. We have an unproven front court, we have to 3 new starters (with players who haven’t had the time on the court with Paige to understand how she sees the floor, makes passes or can set screens to help her Move without getting mauled) and here you are proclaiming an Olympic appearance in 4 years.

Again I like the post season optimism but jeesh, some modicum of logic has to be shown….

I take it this is a satire post. This is a fan forum, not a physics lab or a logic class. Exuberance is what the summer is for. Requiring it to be rational is to misunderstand what exuberance is.

 

[WiseWillie]

It appears we must always temper our exuberance with silent hopes and dreams - mixed in with a modicum of completely logical reasoning at least from each BY'ers point of view. Yes, indeed, nothing is better than a good old Boneyard "discussion". Gotta love em'!

 

[cancontent]

I'm just in this thread now because the word "modicum" is being used in this conversation. The vocabulary used on this board is refreshing.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think Azzi will be the steal of the draft next season.

Has Azzi made any announcement about when she will leave for the draft? She could go in 2025 or 2026. Same with Paige, who says she'll leave in 2025.

 

[Bone Dog]

Has Azzi made any announcement about when she will leave for the draft? She could go in 2025 or 2026. Same with Paige, who says she'll leave in 2025.

I haven’t heard anything. It would surprise me if she were to stay after winning an NC. But if they don’t, I suppose she might.