Paige Bueckers was linked to UConn basketball player Matt Freeman during her college years — but as of 2026, she has publicly confirmed a relationship with WNBA teammate Azzi Fudd.
Paige Bueckers is one of the most electrifying names in women's basketball. Her personal life has drawn just as much attention as her on-court brilliance. This article gives you the full, fact-checked timeline — from early dating rumors to her confirmed 2026 relationship — with clarity, context, and zero gossip padding.
Who Is Matt Freeman?
Matt Freeman is a New Zealand-born basketball player who attended the University of Connecticut. He and Paige Bueckers crossed paths during her college years at UConn.
Their relationship was never publicly confirmed by either party. Multiple sports publications, including College Sports Network, reported them as a rumored couple. They were reportedly spotted together at restaurants near the UConn campus.
Here is what is confirmed versus speculated:
| Detail | Status |
| Matt Freeman is a UConn student and basketball player | Confirmed |
| Paige and Matt dated during her college years | Rumored, not officially confirmed |
| They have since broken up | Widely reported but unconfirmed |
| Matt Freeman is a professional or public figure | No public record |
Key takeaway: Matt Freeman is a private individual. Most articles on this topic rely on campus sightings and social media speculation — not official statements from either person.
Paige Bueckers' Full Dating History: A Clear Timeline
Understanding Paige's relationship history helps you cut through years of social media noise. Here is the verified timeline:
1. Spencer Rattler (Rumored, High School Era)
- Rattler is an NFL quarterback who played college ball at Oklahoma
- Reports linked the two when they allegedly met during high school
- No official confirmation was ever made by either athlete
2. Jalen Suggs (Clarified as Friendship)
- Suggs is an NBA guard for the Orlando Magic
- Bueckers publicly clarified they are "long-term best friends," not romantic partners
- She addressed this directly in interviews to stop the speculation
3. Tyler Dorsey (Speculated)
- Dorsey plays professional basketball in EuroLeague
- Rumors circulated online but were never substantiated
4. Matt Freeman (UConn Era, Most Widely Reported)
- A fellow UConn student and basketball player
- Rumored relationship during Paige's college years
- Widely reported as her "boyfriend" by multiple outlets, though neither confirmed it publicly
- As of 2025, reports describe the relationship as over
5. Azzi Fudd (Confirmed, 2025–Present)
- This is the most significant and only officially confirmed relationship
- Bueckers and Fudd publicly announced their relationship in July 2025
- Both are now teammates on the Dallas Wings in the WNBA
2026 Update: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd — The Confirmed Relationship
This is the biggest relationship development in Paige Bueckers' personal life to date. Here is what happened:
- 2025 WNBA Draft: Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings
- July 2025: Bueckers and Fudd publicly confirmed they were in a romantic relationship
- 2026 WNBA Draft: The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick, reuniting them as teammates
- April 2026 (Wings Media Day): Bueckers made an official statement about their relationship
Bueckers' exact words at the 2026 Dallas Wings media day:
"Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi's personal relationship is nobody's business but our own. And what we choose to share is completely up to us."
She also defended Fudd's draft selection directly:
"Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is as a basketball player."
This statement confirmed two things at once. Their relationship is real and official. And Bueckers is not interested in making it a media spectacle.
For more on how athletes navigate identity and public life, see BigWriteHook's deep dive on Glena Goranson and Pete Carroll: Football's Most Private Power Couple.
Who Is Azzi Fudd? Understanding Paige's Confirmed Partner
If Matt Freeman was the college rumor, Azzi Fudd is the confirmed present. Here is what you need to know about her:
- Full name: Azzi Fudd
- Position: Guard
- College: University of Connecticut (UConn Huskies) — same team as Bueckers
- 2026 WNBA Draft: No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings
- History with Bueckers: Friends since their early teens on the U16 USA Basketball national team
- Background: Former high school rivals who became UConn teammates and close friends before confirming a romance
Their relationship spans nearly a decade of shared basketball history. That kind of foundation is rare — and it explains why Bueckers defends Fudd's privacy with such clarity.
Why Paige Bueckers Keeps Her Personal Life Private
Paige Bueckers operates by a clear principle: what happens off the court stays off the court. This is not evasion — it is professional discipline.
Here is how she has navigated personal questions throughout her career:
- On Jalen Suggs: Proactively clarified the friendship to stop speculation from spreading
- On Matt Freeman: Never confirmed or denied, maintaining total privacy
- On Azzi Fudd: Confirmed the relationship in a single, direct statement — then closed the door
This approach reflects something worth noting. The more famous the athlete, the more the media treats their personal life as public property. Bueckers pushes back on that assumption — and does so articulately.
For a parallel look at how public figures protect private relationships, read BigWriteHook's profile on Romain Dauriac: Life Beyond Scarlett Johansson — a man who navigated extreme media scrutiny while carving out a private identity.
Paige Bueckers: Fast Facts for Context
Understanding her relationship story requires knowing who she is as an athlete first.
| Category | Detail |
| Full Name | Paige Marie Bueckers |
| Date of Birth | October 20, 2001 |
| Age (2026) | 24 |
| Hometown | Hopkins, Minnesota |
| Position | Point Guard |
| College | UConn Huskies |
| WNBA Team | Dallas Wings (2025–present) |
| Draft Position | No. 1 overall, 2025 WNBA Draft |
| NIL Valuation | ~$1.5 million+ (college era) |
| Key Injury | Torn ACL (2022–23 season) |
| Notable Award | ESPY Award — Best Female College Athlete (2021) |
Her father Bob played point guard in high school and coached her until 7th grade. Her mother Amy competed in track and field at the University of St. Thomas. Both parents were deeply involved in her development as an athlete — which helps explain her discipline, focus, and grounded outlook on fame.
For similar athlete biography profiles, check out Jessi Combs: Age, Height, Wiki, Bio, Net Worth & Legacy on BigWriteHook.
FAQ: Paige Bueckers Relationship Questions Answered
Q: Who is Paige Bueckers dating in 2026?
A: Paige Bueckers is in a confirmed relationship with WNBA guard Azzi Fudd as of 2026. They publicly announced the relationship in July 2025. Both now play for the Dallas Wings, after Fudd was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Q: Did Paige Bueckers date Matt Freeman?
A: Matt Freeman is a UConn basketball player widely reported to have dated Paige Bueckers during her college years. Neither Bueckers nor Freeman officially confirmed the relationship. As of 2025, reports indicate they are no longer together.
Q: Who is Matt Freeman in relation to Paige Bueckers?
A: Matt Freeman is a New Zealand-born basketball player who attended the University of Connecticut, where Bueckers also played. They were frequently rumored to be a couple based on campus sightings, but their relationship was never publicly confirmed by either person.
Q: Has Paige Bueckers ever talked publicly about her relationships?
A: Bueckers made one official relationship statement at the Dallas Wings media day in April 2026, confirming her relationship with Azzi Fudd. She stated it was "nobody's business but our own" and indicated she would not address the topic again publicly.
Q: Are Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd teammates?
A: Yes. Both Bueckers and Fudd play for the Dallas Wings. Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and Fudd was the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the same franchise. They were previously UConn teammates and have known each other since their early teens.
Q: How long have Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd known each other?
A: They have known each other since their early teenage years, when both played on the U16 USA Basketball national team. Their relationship spans over a decade of shared athletic history before becoming a confirmed romantic couple in 2025.
Q: Did Paige Bueckers date Spencer Rattler?
A: Spencer Rattler, an NFL quarterback, was rumored to have dated Bueckers during their high school years. No official statement was ever made by either person confirming or denying the relationship.
Q: Why does Paige Bueckers keep her personal life private?
A: Bueckers has stated that her personal relationships are private by choice. She separates her professional performance from her personal life deliberately. Her April 2026 media-day statement made clear that she controls what she shares — and that she does not owe the public details of her relationships.
References
- College Sports Network — Is Paige Bueckers Dating Matt Freeman? — collegefootballnetwork.com
- Yahoo Sports — Paige Bueckers addresses relationship with Azzi Fudd — sports.yahoo.com
- The Spun — Paige Bueckers Announces Her Relationship Status — thespun.com
- PinkNews — WNBA player Paige Bueckers has one thing to say about Azzi Fudd relationship — thepinknews.com
- EditorialGE — Latest Update on Paige Bueckers Boyfriend — editorialge.com
- BigWriteHook — Glena Goranson and Pete Carroll: Football's Most Private Power Couple — bigwritehook.co.uk
Last updated: May 2026. This article reflects publicly confirmed information only. Unverified rumors are clearly labeled as such throughout.
