Ask Azzi Anything

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Fudd Around And Find Out

Episode: Ask Azzi Anything
Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Azzi Fudd & Ashanti Plummer

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Episode Overview

This episode is a fan Q&A special where UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd and co-host Ashanti Plummer answer questions from listeners about life as a world-class college athlete, their personal lives, basketball stories, and more. From juggling a packed schedule to family stories, recruitment memories, and on-court mishaps, it’s a candid, humorous, and motivating peek behind the scenes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Checking In: Life Balance & Being Present

• Busy Schedule: Azzi discusses her packed life, always traveling and balancing basketball, school, and family.
  • “You can sleep when you’re dead. Like, I’m not really worried about that.” (Azzi, 02:56)
• Advice for Others: Azzi and Ashanti stress the importance of staying present and appreciating moments with family, especially with such busy lives.
  • “Really being able to stay present and enjoy what you're doing in the moment.” (Azzi, 03:38)

2. Role Models

• Family Appreciation: Azzi emphasizes her parents' sacrifices as formative, now more deeply appreciated as she grows older.
  • “All the sacrifices that they've given for us, I'm just super grateful for. And I hope that I can be a parent like them one day.” (Azzi, 04:27)
• Ashanti also credits her mother’s strength as a single parent.

3. Travel Stories & Sleeping Anywhere

• Azzi prepares for a sudden trip to China, lamenting her lack of iPad for the lengthy flight.
• Both hosts reveal “hidden talents” for falling asleep anywhere (even gyms, movie theaters, or clubs).
  • “I would lay my jacket down and I'd sleep, like, in between the bleachers… in the middle of a tournament.” (Azzi, 06:33)
• Fun digression into weirdest sleeping spots, with Azzi noting she’s even fallen asleep in a club.

4. iPad Games, Books, and Harry Potter

• Azzi shares her love for old-school iPad games, including Smurf Village and Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery.
• Both hosts bond over Harry Potter fandom and take playful sides on which Hogwarts house they’d belong to.
• Azzi's recent and favorite reads:
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo—“Made me cry.”
  • Pretty Girls (Karen Slaughter)—“That’s a crazy book.”
  • The Nightingale—"I was up at night, like, sobbing, reading this book. It like crushed my heart. But it was really good.” (Azzi, 11:15)

5. Advice to Young Athletes

• Importance of dreaming big, setting both short- and long-term goals, but embracing the non-linear journey.
  • “It’s not about the setbacks. It’s about how you overcome those things and how you respond…” (Azzi, 13:19)
• Ashanti underscores authenticity: “There is no one else, honestly, that you can be. And if you continue to just show up genuinely as yourself, your tribe will find you…”

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Listener Questions & Live Interaction

6. Listener (Philip) Joins Live

• Workout Routine:

  • Azzi describes a typical week—on-court workouts 5-6 days, lifting after, focusing on quality over quantity.
    • “If you do an hour of good work, even 45 minutes of quality work, that's all you need.” (Azzi, 15:46)

• Philip’s Fitness:

  • Philip shares he’s “running, never stopping” and admits his pushups are “mediocre.” The hosts encourage him.

• Fans Naming Babies After Azzi?

  • “A baby being named after me is crazy because that's like a different level... this child is stuck with that name for at least 18 years…” (Azzi, 17:27)
  • Both hosts agree tattoos and names both represent wild levels of fandom.

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All About Basketball

7. Recruiting Stories & College Choices

• Visits:
  • Family road-tripped to numerous college campuses.
  • Azzi shares funny/odd recruiting anecdotes: Sixth-grade scholarship offer at Maryland, memorable hospitality at Notre Dame, and UCLA's creative recruitment efforts.
    • “We were doing like a walk around the campus and they had someone on a golf cart stop me with… a magazine...“ (Azzi, 21:50)
  • Ashanti relays a school proposing with dessert that read “Will you marry us?”—and she said yes!

8. Favorite Team Memories

• Movie nights (notably watching The Purge), playful team bonding, and pranking teammates were standout moments beyond big wins.

9. Family Shenanigans

• Azzi’s dad regularly embarrasses/supports her at games—going wild for t-shirts at UConn, dancing on the Jumbotron, making her laugh from the stands.

10. Basketball Hypotheticals & Fun

• If you could change a rule: Both want a four-point shot, especially for deep threes.
• Signature Move:
  • Azzi: “In-n-out cross,” a staple from her high school days.
• Cartoon All-Stars:
  • Sully from Monsters, Inc (“He’d be a beast in the paint!” – Azzi, 29:54), plus Tom & Jerry as creative picks for unstoppable hoops characters.

11. Coaching, Embarrassment, and Honesty

• Azzi's dad once kicked her out of practice for asking to go pee: “He told me you should only be asking to go to the bathroom if you need to poop… if you need to pee, then you're not working hard enough.” (Azzi, 31:09)
• Azzi’s most embarrassing moment: Getting her period during a TV game—a relatable, real-life moment many female athletes face.

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Ashanti’s Story: Basketball, Injuries, and Media

12. Ashanti’s Basketball Journey

• Grew up in New York City, played D1 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
• Suffered various injuries, including a torn ACL (“left knee club” in solidarity with Azzi).
• Played pro basketball in Malta, Czech Republic, Germany, and most loved Australia—“the team felt really like family.”
• Chased once by a turkey-like animal in Australia (“Me and my therapist are locked in after that.” – Ashanti, 38:38)

13. From Player to Media

• Hurt again in Australia, decided to pivot to sports media to stay close to the game.
• “Why not host, why not tell stories, why not still be around it in ways that I don't necessarily have to play all the time…” (Ashanti, 39:17)
• "Playing will always be number one love," but hosting/broadcasting brings its own joys.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You can sleep when you're dead." (Azzi, 02:56)
• "The journey is never linear. It's never a straight line, the path. Like, it's never easy." (Azzi, 13:19)
• "If you continue to just show up genuinely as yourself… your tribe will find you." (Ashanti, 14:00)
• "My dad yelled at me… he kicked me out of the gym because I asked to go pee." (Azzi, 31:09)
• "Team felt really like family, and it's warm all the time. I lived in Brisbane." (Ashanti, 38:06)
• "But playing the game will always be the best feeling ever." (Ashanti, 39:59)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:19 – Checking in on Azzi’s busy life
• 03:38 – Advice on balance and being present
• 04:27 – Non-basketball role models
• 05:24 – Travel and sleeping anywhere
• 08:45 – iPad games, Harry Potter, and favorite books
• 12:56 – Advice for young athletes
• 15:14 – Live listener, Philip, asks about Azzi’s workouts
• 17:07 – Naming kids/tattoos after athletes
• 21:41 – College recruiting anecdotes
• 26:37 – Favorite team memories
• 27:05 – Family shenanigans in the stands
• 28:02 – Fun basketball rule changes
• 29:54 – Cartoon characters as hoopers
• 31:09 – Most random thing to be yelled at by a coach
• 32:04 – Most embarrassing on-court moment
• 35:53 – Ashanti’s basketball journey Q&A

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Tone & Style

The episode is lively, funny, honest, and motivational—Azzi and Ashanti keep things real, candidly sharing wins, awkward moments, and advice with genuine warmth and humor.

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This engaging mailbag episode of Fudd Around And Find Out delivers heartfelt stories, unfiltered athlete experiences, and playful energy—perfect for fans and anyone curious about the real life behind college basketball stardom.

Transcript

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[Az Fudd]

Hey everyone. Welcome back to Fudd around and find out. This is AZ Fudd and I'm here with my girl Ashanti Plumber Ashanti. What is up?

[Ashanti Plummer]

What's up AZ listeners? We have a good one. It's a mailbag episode and we're going to get into all things UConn basketball and AZ's personal life. And we may answer some burning questions that you have about me too.

[Az Fudd]

That's right. So I'm super excited to see what you guys want to know. Ashanti, where are we starting?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Well, let's start with a check in. The listeners want to know, how are you doing? What's up? You've been moving and shaking nonstop since like April. So how are you doing?

[Az Fudd]

I'm good. I feel like being busy is all I've ever known. So, like, this is not really new. I feel like the whole living out of a suitcase for like weeks on end, that's a little new, but I'm good. A little tired, but nothing. You know, you can sleep when you're dead. Like, I'm not really worried about that. Other than that, like, I'm great. I've had some really cool experiences these last few months. I've met some really amazing people. So I feel like I'm just trying to really soak in every experience and every opportunity I've gotten. Cause it's easy to, like, look past things and look at the next thing coming.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yeah, absolutely. So someone who's balancing like traveling and basketball and school and all these other events you have to attend, like, what kind of advice do you have for the listeners?

[Az Fudd]

I guess I'd say to stay present. Like there's. When you're doing so much, especially back to back to back, like it's super easy to get caught up in either what you had just done or what you're looking forward to doing next week. But really being able to stay present and enjoy what you're doing in the moment. Like right now I'm in Minnesota with my family, so getting to enjoy this little bit of downtime I have. And I only have a little bit of time with my cousin and my grandparents and being here in my favorite place. So being able to really enjoy this before I go on to what's next.

[Ashanti Plummer]

In a few days, yeah, that's dope. I really do appreciate the time that I do get to spend with my family. I'm out here in New York where my family doesn't even live here anymore. So I definitely understand being present where you're at, especially when it comes to some quality time with the. The famo. So who are your non, like basketball related, like role models or people you look up to?

[Az Fudd]

I have to say, my parents, I think, admiring. I feel like as I've gotten older, being able to appreciate, you know, how hard parenting is having three kids and them balancing everything they've been able to do. For us and giving us these opportunities. Growing up, obviously, like in the moment growing up, you're like, okay, this is normal. This is what a parent's supposed to do. But all the sacrifices that they've given for us, I'm just super grateful for. And I hope that I could be a parent like them one day.

[Ashanti Plummer]

We love you guys. We love her parents. What would you say, non basketball related? I'm gonna say my mom. I think that's pretty cliche, but it's the truth. She was a single parent raising me and my brother and so I just admire her, especially like in these New York City streets. So that's definitely someone that I look up to. Not a basketball. Why wives wise. Okay, girly, so you're about to go on a very, very long trip. How are you feeling about this trip overseas to China?

[Az Fudd]

I'm excited. I'm a little nervous for this flight. This wasn't planned until like a little bit ago. So when I left campus, I left my iPad on campus because I was like, oh, I'm not going to need it. I'm taking a class off my computer. I'll do homework, I'll read a book, listen to music. I'm not going to be on a flight that's longer than three hours. I'm not really going to be bored and I'm currently ipadless. Going to be on a 12 plus and so I'm a little nervous for.

[Ashanti Plummer]

How this is going to go.

[Az Fudd]

What's the longest flight you've been on?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I don't know. So I went to Australia. I lived there for a little bit and so I think it was two flights, but I don't remember how long the longest one of those two were, but I just remember it was two Australia and I was lucky enough to have a lot of leg room and I went to sleep for majority of the time because I can't imagine.

[Az Fudd]

So you can sleep on planes?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Oh, absolutely. I have to. Speaking of sleep, Miss Girl, you are always napping all the time, everywhere. And the reason why I know is because your dad literally posts on social media all the time. It's like a hidden talent of his where he's catching you knocked out. Like, you can't sleep on planes. It's actually shocking to me because I've seen you via social media sleep, like everywhere.

[Az Fudd]

What? I do sleep on planes. It's just like not good. And my mouth is always open. So when I wake up, like choking because my mouth is all dry. Yeah, that's probably like my least favorite place to sleep. A car nap, though. Oh, my gosh. Those hit different. But I feel like growing up in a gym, I feel like that I very quickly learned how to sleep anywhere. Like, I would lay my jacket down and I'd sleep, like, in between the bleachers on the. Like, with games going on in the middle of a tournament. So I feel like growing up in that environment has taught me to sleep anywhere.

[Ashanti Plummer]

What's the weirdest place you've ever slept?

[Az Fudd]

The weirdest place I've ever slept. I've definitely fallen asleep at basketball games before. Like, not like a U Tournament ones. Like, real ones.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Wait, real ones that you are participating?

[Az Fudd]

No, no, no, no. Not like ones that I'm watching. Not one. Not the ones that I'm playing in. I'm trying to think.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Okay, girl, that would be crazy.

[Az Fudd]

Cut the camera.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I think the weirdest place I've ever fell asleep. Well, not really weird, but, I mean, I don't know. I feel like this might be common. I fell asleep in a movie theater before. Now movie theaters out here, it's like $25 just for a ticket. So I literally paid to take a nap. But you know what? I needed it, so it is what it is.

[Az Fudd]

I know a lot of people who do that. But if I'm paying to go see a movie, I'm not gonna fall asleep. Can't waste my life.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I feel that, but I feel like. I don't know, it's like. It's nice and cold in the theater. And then I'm usually going with, like, some of my friends, so I'm kind of, like, comfy. Yeah, I played myself. $25 to take a nap.

[Az Fudd]

Wait, Ashanti, what movie did you fall asleep in?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Girl, I don't know. I was sleep. I was knocked out. I had no idea. I gotta ask my best friend and get back to y'. All. Cause. No clue.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, actually, I've fallen asleep in a club. That's gotta be the craziest place. I've fallen asleep.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yes, that's definitely insane. It's loud, it's crazy, it's hot.

[Az Fudd]

But, like, when you're tired, you're just like, you're tired.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Wait, I'm gonna take a nap right here. I'm gonna take a nap. You see that?

[Az Fudd]

That's me.

[Ashanti Plummer]

She was like. I think she's on a beach or something with her brother. And she like, I need to get nap right here. Like, crying. I felt that. Tell me some of the things that you play or watch on your iPad.

[Az Fudd]

I think between my family And a couple of friends. I have, like, logins to every streaming platform possible. So whatever show I'm watching at that moment, like, I'm in between shows right now. So I'm just gonna download a bunch of, like, top 10, whatever movies and then my iPad games. I get made fun of a lot for these, but I don't care. I love my Smurf Village game. I've been playing that since I got my iPad in, like, third grade. I play the Harry Potter Hard Clockworks game.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I made up all of that because I need explanations. So go ahead. Smurfville. Harry Potter.

[Az Fudd]

I play homescapes. That's a good one. And then I say, like, those are my big three. And then a bunch of, like, random ones, obviously, I have on there. Okay.

[Ashanti Plummer]

What Smurf would you be?

[Az Fudd]

Obviously, I'm gonna be Smurfette. I mean, duh. Who would you be?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I am in between Jokey Smurf, because I got jokes for days, or Chef Smurf, because I like to eat. Even though Chef Smurf cooks.

[Az Fudd]

I was gonna say. Okay, we're gonna pretend like that makes sense.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I mean, I'm a cook in any.

[Az Fudd]

We can just make up our own Smurf. You're gonna be the eating Smurf?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yes. Yes, absolutely. I know Harry Potter. I am a fan. I've read, like, every book, so I get that. Yes. Girls giving guilty pleasure big. I had a wand.

[Az Fudd]

I think I had a wand for Halloween. Oh, okay.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Are you going to tell me anything I was doing? Yeah. Craziness.

[Az Fudd]

I love that.

[Ashanti Plummer]

What house would you want to be in for Harry Potter?

[Az Fudd]

Oh, my gosh. Wait. Now I'm going to. I forget what house I'm in. I think.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Oh, you're. Excuse me. What house are you in?

[Az Fudd]

No, but, like, you take. When you play the game, you, like, take a test, so it, like, puts you in a house. It was either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. I forget which one. It wasn't. Like, it definitely wasn't Slytherin, and it wasn't Gryffindor. Gryffindor? Yeah. What house would you want to be in?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Gryffindor. Only because, like, Harry Potter was in Gryffindor. I read the books. They're typically the ones who are, like, brave and going on adventures, and I like to believe that would be me. But honestly, as soon as I hear something creepy in the woods or something like that, I'm running. Actually, I want to go explore in the first place. So.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, I don't think I'D like to think I would, but I don't think I would. I think after this we need to do one of those tests and find out.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Absolutely. Coming to you real soon. Talked about your iPad, the games. I know you're a huge reader, so tell the people what you've been reading and what you're into and what you're looking forward to reading.

[Az Fudd]

I feel like this has been a slow reading summer for me because I take classes, but only during one like month of the summer. This summer I'm taking it during both. So it's been hard to read as much as I'd like to. I've read a few good ones. Probably Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I really enjoyed that one. Made me cry. Oh, if you like thrillers, Pretty Girls, I forget who. Maybe Karen Slaughter, something like that. I forget who wrote it. That's a crazy book. And then the Nightingale. It's like a historical fiction book. I think our strength coach gave it to me and I was so just unprepared for like I was up at night like sobbing, reading this book. It like crushed my heart. But it was really good. It was really good. I would suggest that one. I don't think you would like that one. Do you read?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Wait, why?

[Az Fudd]

I don't. It was just, it was like a heavy read.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I read. I'm more of a like self help reader. I like reading about like just ways to improve in the business side of my life. And then also I enjoy like, you know, the spiritual, faith based side and then I enjoy reading. Yeah, just mostly like self help. When I was younger I really was into a lot of fiction, but now I'm more like nonfiction, self help, that kind of thing. But I don't mind a good little romance novel. I like that kind of stuff. So you can put me on for sure. Do you read like self help books and stuff like that? Anything motivational?

[Az Fudd]

I read some. I'm very much more fiction. But like I read the Obstacles the way. I really like that one. And Chop Wood, Carry water. But definitely fiction is always my go to.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yeah. All right, switching gears here. A listener wants to know, what advice would you give to young athletes?

[Az Fudd]

Advice that I would give, like there's so many things you could say. Advice that I would give would be set goals and dream big and make sure like you're setting goals that are. Whether it's like in a month, a few months, things that you can like obtain that are closer. Closer. Like what am I trying to say.

[Ashanti Plummer]

That are like things you can obtain now and things that you might not think are obtainable, but set them anyways and try.

[Az Fudd]

Yes, yes. But also, like, short term and long term, and then also things that you think, like, I don't know if I can get that level. I don't know if this is, like, realistic or not. But like, you said it there because, like, anything's possible. And then also, like, with that remembering that, like, the journey is never linear. It's never a straight line, the path. Like, it's never easy. So I feel like just always remembering that there's always gonna be setbacks. And it's not about the setbacks. It's about how you overcome those things and how you respond to those obstacles that are in the way and those things that are thrown at you.

[Ashanti Plummer]

That's amazing. That's beautiful. I'm feeling inspired.

[Az Fudd]

Whatever.

[Ashanti Plummer]

What's your advice? No, for real. I think that's dope. It's essentially, there's gonna be a lot of people who tell you no, or maybe you don't fit the picture of what they believe you can do, you know? And so I think great advice for younger athletes, because even myself growing up, there are people who I had big dreams. I was like, I'm going to play Division 1 basketball. That was, like, one of my first basketball goals. And people were just like, I hadn't gotten super tall yet, so they were just like, where are you going? Like, oh, you can. You can stay, you know, near home. You can go to nyu, which is a great school. But that's not a Division 1 school where I wanted to go. So if I would have just been okay with what everyone else was setting for me, I wouldn't have achieved the things that I've been able to achieve. So that's great advice, girlie. And the advice I would give them kids is, be yourself. There is no one else, honestly, that you can be. And if you continue to just show up genuinely as yourself in spaces, the people your tribe will find you and the path that you're supposed to be walking on, and the things that you're supposed to be doing in this life will happen over time. So just continue to show up authentically as you. That's for the kiddos. I love that we have a special listener who has a live question today.

[Az Fudd]

Philip, you have a question for us. This is my cousin Philip. He lives in la. And wait, first of all, show him your jersey. For those of you who can't see, he's wearing an Easy Fudd Basket Camp jersey. It looks good on him. Yeah. Go ahead, ask your question. All right.

[Philip (Listener)]

So easy.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yes, sir.

[Philip (Listener)]

I want to know, like, what your workout schedule is like, you know, do you, like, work out every day? Is it like. Like, is it like a few. A few days every week or, like, you know.

[Az Fudd]

Great question, Philip. So as you can see, Philip's here with me in Minnesota, and he's gotten a little taste of my workout schedule because he's been waking up early and going to the gym with me. Yeah, I work out just about every day. I think I do something most days, so I go to the gym, like, do an on court workout probably five, six days out of the week. And I'm more of a. As I've gotten older, I've learned that quality is more important than quantity. So it's not about how long you're on the court, more about, like, the quality of the work that you're getting when you're on the court. So I feel like if you do an hour of good work, even 45 minutes of quality work, that's all you need. And then I go in and I lift afterwards, which is also usually about an hour. And while I've been working out on court, Philip's been doing his own workout on the track. Philip, how have your workouts been going?

[Philip (Listener)]

Just, you know, running, never stopping until I'm done with the workout facts.

[Az Fudd]

Philip is also working on his push ups and jumping jacks. Tell them how your push ups are coming along.

[Philip (Listener)]

They're doing mediocre.

[Az Fudd]

Mediocre. Okay.

[Philip (Listener)]

I feel like they're doing mediocre.

[Az Fudd]

I would. I would approve that. All right. For the people who can see. Give them a little flex. Show them your muscles. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So good. Philip, that was a great question. Thank you so much for joining today and asking.

[Philip (Listener)]

Also, what do you think's crazier? A baby named, like, someone we don't know has a baby named after you or a tattoo of you?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Wow.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, those are both pretty crazy. And I know people with both.

[Philip (Listener)]

Oh, okay.

[Az Fudd]

I think a baby is crazy. Like, a baby being named after me is crazy because I feel like that's like, a different level of, like, this child is stuck with that name for at least 18 years until they can.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Legally change it if they hate it that much.

[Az Fudd]

But then again, also, a tattoo is crazy because, like, that's permanent. You know, it's hard to. Either way, I'm honored.

[Philip (Listener)]

Yeah, I feel like that's a good answer.

[Az Fudd]

What do you think is crazier, personally?

[Philip (Listener)]

Kid named after you.

[Az Fudd]

Would you name your kid after Me?

[Philip (Listener)]

I mean, yeah, I might probably not, but I.

[Az Fudd]

You think about it. Probably not, but you consider it.

[Philip (Listener)]

Yeah.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Well, thank you so much, Phil.

[Az Fudd]

Thanks for joining us. Give me a hug.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Body home. That is 100% the cutest listener question we've gotten. But the listeners really want to know. And up next, we're going to get into basketball and all UConn questions. They want to know everything.

[John Fry]

This is John Fry from ok. Storytime. Are you an aspiring singer songwriter? I have a question. Wouldn't it be cool if you were like, oh, you know Justin Bieber? Yeah, I knew him back in the, the day when he was starting. Oh, yeah, yeah. The Weeknd, Bruno Mars. You know, I, I knew them when they were playing in little tiny venues or just right on their come up. Wouldn't that be nice? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have for you the opportunity to have the best bragging rights in your group of friends of all time. And that is. Next up, live music. What is that? It is TikTok's biggest music talent show. And if you're not into it, you're seriously missing out. TikTok Live and iHeartRadio are teaming up to find the next wave of of music stars and they're performing live only on TikTok from August 25th to the 29th. Watch the semifinalists give it their everything to find the next big star in the real time. I'm talking lifelong bragging rights here. It's your chance to discover and support the next superstar before they hit the big stage at LA's legendary iHeart Theater this fall. Follow ictocliveus on TikTok now and tune into every performance, every battle and the behind the scenes. Your front row seats is just one tap away. Remember, it's at TikTok live. Underscore us on TikTok.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It is hot out there this summer, right? But don't sweat it. We got tons of ways to save on your family's favorite personal care items to keep yourself feeling cool and smelling good. Now through September 9th, earn four times points when you shop for items from your favorite brands like Right Guard raw sugar, Dove Soft soap and Olay. Then use your points for discounts on groceries or gas on future purchases. Offer end September 9th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Washable Sofas Announcer]

This Labor Day, say goodbye to spills, stains and overpriced furniture with washablesofas.com featuring Annabe the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $6.99 making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Innovation pet friendly, stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your life. Now through Labor Day. Get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[John Fry]

Talk about stepping up. Bang bang.

[ESPN Announcer]

It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

[John Fry]

The electricity is palpable.

[ESPN Announcer]

Step up your game with no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up. For more on the ESPN app or at stream espn.com Sign up now.

[Ashanti Plummer]

You ready?

[Az Fudd]

Oh, I'm ready.

[Ashanti Plummer]

All right. So we were just talking about your personal life. What other schools were you thinking about going to visit during your recruitment process?

[Az Fudd]

So my family was road trip family. So to every AU tournament we went, we drove most of them, we drove so we would stop, we'd leave early and we would stop at whatever school we were passing on the way that was either interested or even just even if like they hadn't shown interest yet, we would still stop just to see their campus which at the time like it was cool but I was kinda like why are we doing this? And as I'm older and like even when I went into making my college decision I was really grateful that my parents did that. Because of COVID I didn't get official visits. So going on all those other visits I had already seen the campuses of all the schools I was like really considering but also seeing campuses of other schools and like things that I knew I didn't like. So getting, getting that feel early on was really important and I didn't realize that at the time but so like I visited Notre Dame a lot and like a few memories from there is their dining hall and how my younger brothers when they get any type of buffet of food in front of them. Like, they go absolutely insane. And just seeing their plates, I had, like, secondhand embarrassment sometimes seeing the plates they'd come back with. When I went to ucla, I visited there and they had. We were doing like a walk around the campus and they had someone on a golf cart stop me with like, a magazine. I think of a picture of me on it, and they were like, are you AZ Fud? And like, show me this magazine. They used to. UCLA needs props because they're like, recruiting people and they're creatives. Like, they were. It was top notch the things that they would send and do. But it was a lot of just really funny things like that. There's a lot of good memories on those visits.

[Ashanti Plummer]

That sounds great. I mean, what's one of the weirdest or, like, craziest or unexpected things that a school has done to try to get you to commit to them?

[Az Fudd]

I feel like that was. That was funny. And at the moment I was like, what the heck? Like, how does this person know who I am? And then like, later we figured it out. But that was really cool. I mean, I remember when Maryland offered me a scholarship in sixth grade, I was at their, like, elite camp and I was called into Brenda's coach freeze office during lunchtime. And in the moment, I'm like, I just want to go eat lunch with my friends. Like, why am I being called to her office right now? And my parents are there and they're talking. I don't, like, remember the conversation too much. I'm really there talking. We might have watched the video. And at the end, she's like, I've really enjoyed having you here. You've been really great. Been following you, watching you. And we want to offer us scholarship. And they just look at me, I gotta look at them. And I look at my parents and I'm like, what does that mean? I had no idea what it. I know that scholarship meant. So I think that was probably one of my favorite memories. Just because that was like, the start, like the real start of the recruitment process for me and really learning what that Otis Scholarship was and realizing, like, what my future could look like.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Sixth grade. Oh, my goodness.

[Az Fudd]

Do you have any good recruitment stories? Good.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I mean, my. One of my favorites is we went to, like, a really, really bougie restaurant, this was in South Texas at Corpus. And the waiter came out and it was like the last part of the meal. We already ate. We're done. The waiter came out and it was like a cake, almost like a. Like a flan with, like, a little candle. And then, like, on the side of it, it just said, will you marry us? Which is kind of cr. But, like, it really is, like, a decision that's gonna last a lifetime if you stay. And so I think that was definitely the craziest recruitment story. And I ended up going there, so I guess it worked. I said, I do.

[Az Fudd]

Did you really say I do?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yes. That's gonna be a story for my future. Future husband. Whoever asks, I'd be like, oh, second time around. Here we go. But, yeah, that was definitely a wild one. So what is a core memory from last season other than winning the Natty?

[Az Fudd]

I feel like a lot of my favorite memories are just us as a team hanging out. And one of them was. It was around. It was early in the season, so it was around Halloween. We were. We had just started getting into scary movies. I think it was around Halloween. And the first one we decided to watch was the Purge. And it was like, our first big movie night. Not big. It wasn't the whole team, but we were all, like, squeezing Paige's room. So it was Paige, me, kk, Sarah, Ice, Jana, Caitlin, Ali. We're, like, all a squeeze in her room, and we're watching the Purge. And a lot of them had never seen it before. And I think, if I remember correctly, we kind of convinced Jana that this was a real thing. And so then it also became a conversation of, like, if the Purge really did happen, like, where would you hide? Would you go out? Like, who would you try to kill? And, like, would you be, like, trying to get money? Would you try to get some, like, new bags, some new designer clothes? Like, what would you be trying to get? But that was, like, our first of many movie nights, and it was nice just to hang out with them and mess with them.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I love that. That's cute. Teammate bonding. Okay, so Fudd family. Super fun. Crazy. Never know what stories you're gonna get with you guys. Can you tell us one story or tell us anything crazy that's happened maybe during a game or when your family came over. It could be aau, it could be college, anything.

[Az Fudd]

Wait. Funny. Craziest thing that they've done at a game.

[Ashanti Plummer]

At a game, to make it to a game on time or anything.

[Az Fudd]

One of my favorite things is when I. When I'm, like, in a game, even whether if I'm playing or, like, on the bench just in the huddle, and I look up on the Jumbotron and I see someone from my family up there dancing. It's usually My dad, when I see him either up there dancing or like, I'll like make eye contact with them and I'll see him just in the stands going crazy or when he's like jumping, trying to get a T shirt. The amount of videos that I've seen from fans of him, like at games, trying to get T shirt tosses, like, I'm like, dad, you have so many UConn shirts. Why do you need another UConn shirt from this T shirt toss? Like, you really don't. I know you don't. But it's become a competition for him. But that always makes me laugh.

[Ashanti Plummer]

I can imagine him just rebounding over people to grab these T shirts.

[Az Fudd]

Yes.

[Ashanti Plummer]

And it's killing me because it gives very much on brand. And now that's the competition.

[Az Fudd]

But it's like arms all the way out, jumping.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Has anyone ever out jumped him?

[Az Fudd]

No, not the UConn fans.

[Ashanti Plummer]

At least not the box out. If you can add any, like random rule to basketball, what would it be?

[Az Fudd]

I feel like an easy answer would be like a four point shot, like half court and back is worth four points. If you get like a crazy buzzer beater, just make things interesting. Or even like the volleyball line, like a spot is like a bonus point. But I feel like there needs to be something like more fun. Like that's, that's a basic answer. I don't know. What would you say?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Could you. I was gonna say could you knock down a four pointer? That's gonna be a. That's gonna be your regular range.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, I definitely knock down at least like, you know, I gotta get a couple of them in at least one game.

[Ashanti Plummer]

That was probably one of my favorite parts of the All Star game. I'm like, yes, let's run it up. You shoot it from the lower four points. Let's go.

[Az Fudd]

I like that.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Okay, so one of the listeners want to know what is your signature move and what would you name it?

[Az Fudd]

My signature move in high school, my signature move was an in N out cross. Like I did it like a hundred times a game. I feel like I don't do it as much, but it's still my go to. Like when I'm playing one on one or workouts or like an in out between. I don't know what I would call it though.

[Ashanti Plummer]

You have a great name, girl. I would use it for everything, but.

[Az Fudd]

I don't know what I would call it. What would be your move and what would you call it?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I love a good hook shot and it's called the hook shot. So, you know, what would I call it? I don't know, some AP something.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Ashanti Plummer]

It start with an AP for sure, but the rest, I don't know. We put a little razzle dazzle on it. Okay, so we have a ton of questions, and this one is making me laugh, and I can't wait to ask it. So one of the listeners asked, which cartoon character would be unstoppable in college basketball? My mind immediately goes to Space Jam.

[Az Fudd]

I feel like mine does, too. I'm trying to think of something else. Okay, I'm gonna go with Sully from Monsters, Inc. I think he'd be a beast in the paint.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Yes, absolutely. That's cute. So it just depends. Like, I'm thinking Tom and Jerry, old school. Both of them will be great. 1 Tom, he's a cat. He's bigger. At least on the cartoon, he makes him look big. So we will put him in the paint. Absolutely. But Jerry, he's small. He gets through everybody. He'll be my little point guard. So that's what I think my characters. Okay, what is the funniest thing a coach has ever yelled at you about? Hmm?

[Az Fudd]

You know what the funniest. Or I would say, like, the most random, like, not gonna say unacceptable, but, like, something you shouldn't be yelled at for would be my dad yelling at me. I forget what grade that. Definitely. I want to say this was, like, seventh, eighth, maybe ninth grade. Like, in that. In that time period, could have been younger. I don't remember. I needed to go pee during practice. He yelled at me. He yelled at me. So he kicked me out of practice, kicked me out of the gym because I asked to go pee.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Something you could not even control.

[Az Fudd]

No, actually, he told me that you can control it, and you should only be asking to go to the bathroom if you need to poop, because that's been. That you can't hold. But if you need to pee, then you're not really trying. You're not working hard enough.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Oh, he said all that liquid needs to be coming out through sweat. I see. I see the thinking, Kim. I see the thinking.

[Az Fudd]

You gotta practice for that. I think I was just speechless on that one. I was like, is he. What's going on?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I mean, did you ever pee your pants in practice?

[Az Fudd]

No.

[Ashanti Plummer]

So, I mean, he might have had a little.

[Az Fudd]

You know what? I should have.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Just to prove a point. Like, I told you. I told you I needed to go. Okay, so what is the most embarrassing moment you've had on the court then? So we know you didn't pee your pants. What happened?

[Az Fudd]

I mean, I guess similar to that. I guess getting my period during a game, that's never fun.

[Ashanti Plummer]

How old were you when this happened?

[Az Fudd]

Oh, this was like in college. Okay, it was, but someone saw it before like other people did. So I've heard like other horror stories, but so they caught it in time for me to change and.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Was this a TV game?

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, but I don't. It wasn't bad and you could like only see it from a certain angle. So yeah, it was caught in time.

[Ashanti Plummer]

But shout out to the community because. Oh my goodness, that's crazy.

[John Fry]

This is John Fry from ok, Storytime. Are you an aspiring singer songwriter? I have a question. Wouldn't it be cool if you were like, oh, you know Justin Bieber? Yeah, I knew him back in the day when he was starting. Oh yeah, the Weeknd, Bruno Mars. You know, I knew them when they were playing in little tiny venues or just right on their come up. Wouldn't that be nice? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have for you the opportunity to have the best bragging rights in your group of friends of all time. And that is. Next up, live music. What is that? It is TikTok's biggest music talent show and if you're not into it, you're seriously missing out. TikTok Live and iHeartRadio are teaming up to find the next wave of music stars and they're performing live only on TikTok from August 25th to the 29th. Watch the semifinalists give it their everything to find the next big star in the real time. I'm talking lifelong bragging rights here. It's your chance to discover and support the next superstar before they hit the big stage at LA's legendary iHeart Theater this fall. Follow ictocliveus on TikTok now and tune into every performance, every battle and the behind the scenes. Your front row seat is just one tap away. Remember, it's at TikTok live. Underscore us on TikTok.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Feel good and look good this summer with savings on your personal care favorites and earn four times points now through September 9th. Shop in store or online for items like Dollar Shave Club razors, hydro silk razors and Edge shave gel. Plus some favorite brands like Tampax, Pearl, Depend and poise to earn four times points to use for later discounts on groceries or gas. Hurry in before these deals are gone. Offer end September 9th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Washable Sofas Announcer]

This Labor Day say goodbye to spills, stains and overpriced furniture with washablesofas.com featuring Anabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $6.99, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Anibe's Pet Friendly stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your life. Now through Labor Day. Get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions. Restrictions may apply.

[John Fry]

Talk about stepping up.

[ESPN Announcer]

It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

[John Fry]

The electricity is palpable.

[ESPN Announcer]

Step up your game with no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up. For More on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com Sign up now.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Okay, we're back from Break AZ. What do you got?

[Az Fudd]

So the first question is where did you grow up?

[Ashanti Plummer]

So I grew up in New York City. I live mostly in Manhattan majority of my life, but I've lived in almost every borough except for Staten Island.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, the next question is where did you play college basketball?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I played college basketball at Texas A and M Corpus Christi. It is a small Division 1 in South Texas, aka the Island University.

[Az Fudd]

Was it hard to leave New York when you picked a college out of state?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I was really excited to leave New York. You know, I grew up there, so I was like, I want to go somewhere outside of the city and I want to go somewhere warm. So it made sense for me to go there and then. But it's very different. It's very, very different. People are always smiling and they greet you when you walk by. New York is not as friendly as Texas is, but it was, it was great.

[Az Fudd]

Wait, so then what made you want to go back? You were like, I miss it.

[Ashanti Plummer]

New York is always home. I Went to college in Texas. But I was like, I knew I wasn't going to stay there forever, so that's why I definitely made my way back, back home. But after a couple years, though. After a couple of years, but I made my way back.

[Az Fudd]

You did. What injuries did you have when you were playing?

[Ashanti Plummer]

So quite a few, actually. I was pretty much injured majority of my college career. I had some major ankle injuries, like just like sprains and then I popped my cartilage and then the big one. I tore my ACL when I was a senior.

[Az Fudd]

Hey, part of the club.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Hey, twin writer.

[Az Fudd]

Left knee.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Left knee.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, so we've got both the knees covered between the two of us then. Look at that.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Listen, only got one good one.

[Az Fudd]

No, don't say that. We have two good ones each. Like our knees are good.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Okay, put it together. We got two good knees.

[Az Fudd]

There we go. Okay, the next question is, did you play overseas and where?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I did play overseas, I played in Malta. I played in Czech Republic, Germany and Australia. My absolute favorite place playing was Australia. It was the last place I played and I just loved everything. I've always wanted to go and so I was really excited to be able to play out there and live out there for a couple months.

[Az Fudd]

What about that was your favorite?

[Ashanti Plummer]

I think the team was. The team felt really like family and it's warm all the time. I lived in Brisbane and Brisbane's like a city, but they have like this man made beach in the middle of the city and so that was cool. It's a lot of greenery, but not like the country. So I enjoyed being able to still be around like green, but not be in the middle of like the woods.

[Az Fudd]

So you didn't see any giant spiders or kangaroos?

[Ashanti Plummer]

No giant spiders, but I was chased down the street by a turkey looking animal on my way to practice. Yup, yup. Traumatic experience. Me and my therapist are locked in after that. But definitely that was the only thing I was more afraid because, you know, Australia is home to the deadliest animals in the world. But it was more city like than anything. And I only got chased one time. So, you know, we let it go.

[Az Fudd]

I feel like those are good odds. Only once.

[Ashanti Plummer]

Only once out of the months I was there.

[Az Fudd]

I'll take it anytime. Okay, the next question is fast forwarding a little bit. They want to know, how did you get into basketball media?

[Ashanti Plummer]

So I got hurt towards the end of being in Australia and for me I was kind of like, all right, I've dealt with injuries all through college. I've dealt with injuries now in my professional career, I might want to like slow down a little bit. So I was like, how can I still be around the game when I'm not playing professionally? And so I was kind of like, why not host, why not tell stories, why not still be around it in ways that I don't necessarily have to play all the time, still play for funsies, but it's like a different vibe now with the game. So yeah, I got into it because I stopped playing professionally.

[Az Fudd]

Okay, last question. Do you like hosting broadcasting as much as playing?

[Ashanti Plummer]

Oh, I love it and I just find like a new love for it, hosting and broadcasting and all this fun stuff. But I think even when I still play basketball but recreationally or like for New York City outdoor summer basketball, it's just something about playing the game that will always be the best feeling ever. So while I love hosting and I love doing all the things surrounding the game, I think actually playing will always be like my number one love.

[Az Fudd]

I love that it doesn't get better than playing doesn't.

[Ashanti Plummer]

So be present while you got it.

[Az Fudd]

Thank you all for listening. We'll be back next week after I get back from traveling, but until then, show the pod some love. Rate, Review and Subscribe subscribe to FUD around and find out wherever you get your podcasts. Fut around and Find out is a production of I Heart Women's Sports and Unanimous Media. Executive producers are Jesse Katz, Eric Payton, Sharla Sumter, Brigitte and Stephen Curry. Co executive producer is Kalena Maria Kutney, producers are Mike Coscarelli and co producers are Kurt Redmond, Maya Howard and Jaclyn Schoeninger. This podcast is edited by Mike Coscarelli and hosted by Me, Az Fudd and Ashanti Plummer.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It is hot out there this summer, right? But don't sweat it. We got tons of ways to save on your family's favorite personal care items to keep yourself feeling cool and smelling good. Now through September 9th, earn four times points when you shop for items from your favorite brands like Right Guard Raw Sugar, Dove Soft Soap and Olay. Then use your points for discounts on groceries or gas on future purchases. Offer end September 9th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[John Fry]

This is John Fry from OK Storytime. Are you an aspiring singer songwriter? What do these three things have in common? Bitcoin, fidget, spinners and Beanie Babies. These are three things that you probably all missed out on. But ladies and gentlemen, I am here to ensure that you don't miss out on this TikTok Live and iHeartRadio are throwing the biggest live music competition on TikTok. Next up, live music and you can catch it all in real time. The semifinals are happening August 25th through August 29th and the hottest emerging artists performing live on TikTok for their shot at the legendary I Heart Theater stage. So come and support your favorite artist and tune in for the live performances, behind the scenes moments and more only on TikTok Live live us that is the handle on TikTok at TikTok Live. Underscore us this Labor Day.

[Washable Sofas Announcer]

Say goodbye to spills, stains and overpriced furniture with washablesofas.com featuring Anabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $6.99, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Anabase Pet Friendly stainless steel resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your life. Now through Labor Day. Get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Belvita Announcer]

Every day has a to do list, but adding Enjoy Belvita to yours can help you knock out the rest of it. Belveda Breakfast Biscuits are a tasty and convenient breakfast option when paired with low fat yogurt and vegetable fruit that provide steady energy all morning while Belvita Energy Snack Bites give you the perfect mid morning refuel. Best part? They both taste great, so make the most out of your morning with a bite of Belvita. Pick up a pack of Belvita at your local store today.