UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers and UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd speak with the media at the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Div I Women's Championship Final Four game.
M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There has been speculation for years that basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are more than just besties. Fans have analyzed press conferences and video footage of the pair together, read between the lines of interviews, and become more excited with every social media post that seemed to confirm the women being in a sapphic relationship. But it wasn’t until a sneaky mirror selfie that their relationship was made Instagram official.
And while the two young athletes have yet to make a public announcement that they are dating, they have a rich history of on-court chemistry, supporting each other through injuries, celebrating victories together, and clearly having fun sparking rumors on social media. Oh, and Fudd's phone case literally says they are girlfriends. So, ya know.
Regardless of their relationship status, the girlfriends — and yes, we mean that in the dating sense, not the BFF way — have been joined at the hip for years, inspiring endless fan speculation that has now been all but confirmed. Everyone loves a good friends-to-lovers romance!
2017: They meet for the first time
The start of Bueckers and Fudd’s relationship was a little rocky, with Fudd thinking that her future GF was no match for her skills. The two met in 2017 when they were still in high school and both trying out for the USA National Team. “I watched her play and I was like, ‘Oh, I have nothing to worry about this girl,’” Fudd recalled. “Like, ‘I have a better chance of making it than her.’”
But they both ended up making the team, and Fudd even began visiting Bueckers in Washington, D.C., so the pair could work out together, and thus began the start of a friendship…and possibly more…that has captured the public’s attention for years.
2019: Fudd got injured and Bueckers was there to support her
Injured UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (left) and UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers look on as the team warms up prior to the women's college basketball game between Villanova Wildcats and UConn Huskies on January 29, 2023.M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In 2019, Fudd tore her ACL and Bueckers raced to her side, sent her a bouquet after her surgery, and supported her through her recovery.
“Through that whole thing, she came and visited me before my surgery. After surgery, she was the first one to call. She was always texting me, checking up on me, and making sure that my spirits were high throughout the whole thing,” Fudd told Slam Magazine.
November 2020: Bueckers makes sure they play on the same college team
A non ad post!?😝😝😝 #uconn #fyp #boogie #basketball @Azzi Fudd
In 2019, Bueckers committed to the University of Connecticut, but didn’t want to leave her best friend behind, so she set her sights on making sure they both ended up at the same school. Bueckers started a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #GetAzziToUConn and even made a sweet video to convince Fudd’s family that UConn was where she belonged.
“She actually made this one video on Hudl of her high school highlights of her passing to people and she showed it to my family,” Fudd said. “Like she sat down, airdropped it to the TV and said, ‘This is what I’ll be doing to Azzi. All the passes will come to her if she comes to UConn next year, she’ll get all these open shots.’ I’m just shaking my head, my parents are laughing. But it was a Paige moment.”
The tactic worked, and on Fudd's 18th birthday on November 11, 2020, the two women finally got the chance to play on the same team again when Fudd committed to UConn.
if someone made me breakfast every morning I’d be forced to shower them with compliments too 😍 🎥 @pbuckets67 #pazzi #wbb #paigebueckers #azzifudd #marchmadness
Both women ended up tearing their ACLs, which cost them two years of playing together at UConn, but for Bueckers last season at the university, the lovebirds finally got to walk out on that court together.
The pair frequently had to do press together, which is when fans clocked their undeniable chemistry and eye contact that many interpreted as flirty.
November 2021: Slam Magazine cover
— (@)
While playing together at UConn, Bueckers and Fudd graced the cover of Slam Magazine together and did a full in-depth interview about their friendship and partnership on the court.
“It was a dream to play here, not even knowing what the future would hold—who I would play with, who I would play against,” Bueckers said of her relationship with Fudd. “Just me wanting to come here for school and to be able to do it with my best friend, it makes it so much better.”
April 2025: They won a national championship together
NATIONAL CHAMPS 🏆 (via _haileysutton/x) #paigebueckers #azzifudd #uconnwbb #champs #finalfour
After missing so much playing time together and going three years without taking home the Natty, the star athletes finally won the NCAA National Championship during Bueckers' last season with UConn.
"I think a lot of us, our mindset is like, yes, we really want to win a national championship," Fudd said to ESPN. "But I think most of us on the team are like, we want to do it for Paige. We've seen everything she's been through and everything that she does for us. ... We want to reciprocate that and do anything for her, and we know how badly she wants it."
And the two sparked more relationship rumors when they hugged each other after winning the championship game.
April 14, 2025: They attend the WNBA draft together
Paige Bueckers hugs Uconn teammate Azzi Fudd after being selected with the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.
Elsa/Getty Images
All eyes were on Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA draft, and Fudd appeared right alongside her, walking the orange carpet together. Fans speculated that this was a way for them to soft-launch their relationship since no other players had “friends” sitting with them at their table, but neither woman confirmed they were dating. Bueckers ended up as the first overall draft pick by the Dallas Wings, and when it was announced, the first person Bueckers hugged was Fudd.
Princess treatment every time I’m with her 😇💗 #spoiled @Paige Bueckers
After years of fan speculation and rumors, fans felt like they were finally getting some confirmation that the pair’s relationship went beyond friendship when Fudd posted a TikTok video playing off of a viral trend and captioned, “Princess treatment every time I'm with her,” implying that Bueckers spoils her when they are together.
Needless to say, lesbians across social media were in a frenzy after this post went viral.
June 21, 2025: Did they hard launch their relationship with a phone case?
Fudd posted the photo on her Instagram stories of getting her hair done and showing off her new cell phone case that read, “Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend.” Do they really need to be any clearer than that?
While neither of the women has publicly come out as LGBTQ+ or officially announced their relationship in the press, fans interpreted this as the pair hard launching their relationship now that Bueckers is out of college and playing professional ball.
If your TikTok algorithm is as full of hot queer people and women’s sports as ours is then you have likely seen videos of a mysterious Australian basketball player wearing goth makeup and wondered: Who is that? Same.
Turns out, the athlete making queer women across the internet feral is none other than Caitlin Mary Cunningham, a star pro basketball player in Australia, whose height (they’re 6 foot 4 inches tall), tattoos, unique emo/goth styling, and masc aura has made them go viral.
Last week, photos and videos of Cunningham wearing Joker-inspired makeup on the basketball court took social media by storm. One TikTok video with a compilation of photos of Cunningham already has 3 million views at the time of publication, and TikTok women’s sports commentator Coach Jackie’s video on the Aussie star has already been seen close to 500,000 times.
“When people are saying all of these things, it’s almost as if I’m reading it and it doesn’t click that it’s toward me because I just — I don’t understand,” Cunningham tells PRIDE while throwing their hands in the air and blushing. “It’s really flattering, I guess. It’s overwhelming. I’ve never had this much attention in my whole entire life.”
But who is this queer basketball player everyone is obsessed with?
I love a viral moment deep dive #wbb #queer #womenssports @CAITLE
Cunningham is a Melbourne-based basketball player for the Cyclones, part of the Women’s National Basketball League (the Australian equivalent of the WNBA). Cunningham first got signed to a professional team when they were 16 years old, and played for years before hanging up their jersey to pursue a career as a musician, model, and personal trainer.
But when the COVID-19 lockdown happened in Australia, no international players were allowed into the league, so Cunningham became a hot commodity again because of their talent. They started playing again in 2021 and haven’t stopped since. “I was so bored in lockdown, I was like, sure I’ll play basketball again,” they say.
Now, Cunningham is going after all of their dreams at one time and thriving while doing it, including having an internet full of sapphics lusting after them.
What pronouns does Caitlin Cunningham use, and how do they identify?
Cunningham is queer, has had top surgery, and uses they/them/she pronouns.
Cunningham didn’t get the chance to explore and act out the way a normal teenager would because they were thrust onto the basketball court and into the public eye at such a young age. It wasn’t until they were in their mid-20s that Cunningham started to understand who they were.
“I never really had to come out, I guess, because I didn’t really know what I was coming out to, and then I ended up starting to like people, and I just leaned into it,” they explain.
Cunningham has gone viral in large part because of the dark, goth makeup they wear on and off the court. Since there are no rules dictating what kind of makeup players in Australia can wear, Cunningham goes all out.
They’ve been wearing goth makeup since they started listening to emo bands at 19, but last year they went from wearing smudgy red or black eye makeup to adding black slashes over their eyes and going for an even more dramatic look.
“In Australia, I’m quite known in the basketball world for being like that very alternative basketball player,” they say, “so it’s wild that people are just seeing it now because I haven’t changed, I have always just done this.”
“I’ve always joked I wanted to go like full clown face, like The Crow, white. I guess it’s really chaotic to do that, so I’ve just kind of been pushing the boundaries and just showing up to the pregames and having my makeup done, seeing how my teammates and the coaches [react]. They never say anything, they’re just like, ‘That’s Caitlin.”
But Cunningham’s alternative look doesn’t stop at makeup; they also have permanent vampire fangs that their family dentist added to their teeth, are covered in tattoos, and when they aren’t wearing a basketball uniform, they are sporting dark alternative fashion (Cunningham wore a black band T-shirt, baggy black hoody, a silver chain, and a baseball cap to the interview with PRIDE).
Cunningham said the dentist was nervous that their mom was “going to kill” him if he went through with it, but luckily, he is “a bit of a kook,” so he went ahead. “I think they’re charming,” Cunningham says with a huge smile on their face while describing the fangs.
What does Caitlin Cunningham think of all the attention?
I’m so shook everyone xxx I love u all 🫶🖤 thank you from bottom of heart for the love xxxx
Cunningham seems genuinely confused by the amount of attention they’re getting, and says that they’re “just waiting for it to die down.” Despite feeling overwhelmed by going viral, they have been responding to fans' questions on Cunningham's own TikTok account, which has grown from just 200 followers to over 50,000.
Newfound Caitlin Cunningham fans have compared them to Dennis Rodman and Pete Davidson, which the basketball star finds flattering, and says that people in Melbourne have referred to them as the “Pete Davidson of the queers.”
“A lot of very attractive women always seem to want to date me, and I think that may have a bit to do with the comparison. But I think I’m tall, I’m skinny, I’ve got a lot of tattoos, I don’t know, I’m a bit dorky, maybe similar to him,” she explains.
“Maybe I’ve just got big dick energy.”
Talking to Cunningham makes it clear they are a study in contrast. Both self-deprecating and modest, while also oozing confidence and a self-assured vibe. They also have a huge heart, which is evident in the way they talk about their new fans.
Cunningham says they’re grateful that their increased visibility has made a huge impact on young LGBTQ+ people.
“It’s harder to sleep because I’ve been getting some quite heavy DMs, and I really care about the people reaching out to me because they’re feeling so seen and connected, and I’m helping them realize something about themselves or feel comfortable in their own skin,” Cunningham says. “And that is so powerful, and if I’m that connection for them to be the best version of themselves, I just want to know how to keep helping people feel good with themselves. If I’m that role model for someone, I’ll take it, I’ll do it, I’ll do the best I can to harness that.”
They’re also in a band
In case you didn’t already have a huge crush on Cunningham, they are also part of a queer pop punk band called Free Entertainment, where they sing backup and play the electric guitar.
Cunningham explains that playing music not only provided an artistic outlet, but also gave them the space to act like a typical teenager, which they missed out on by signing to a pro team when they were so young.
“I’ve always loved music and focused on music, but it always took a back seat to my basketball career. But then I just stepped away from playing basketball and I just started doing all my music and living and going out and partying and doing all the things that people would do at like 17, 18, 19, and I was doing it at 26, 27.”
Not only is Cunningham in a band, but they’re planning on branching out and releasing their first single as a solo artist later this year, with plans for a full album in the future.
“I’ve been obsessed with writing my own solo music this year, so I’ve been working in the studio all year, and I’m sitting on so much music. It’s so funny that all of this has happened because it’s so much attention and I’ve got so much music to share with the world that I think is going to pop,” they explain, getting a little bashful about the level of fame they’re experiencing.
Modeling career
Not only is Cunningham a star basketball player and a smoking hot musician, but they’re also a model. They love fashion and have many friends who are designers who have asked them to be in campaigns or walk the runway. Cunningham is hoping to go even farther with their modeling career and use their androgynous look to break down barriers in fashion.
“I would love to do more modeling because I’ve had top surgery too, so I would love to be that androgynous that can walk men’s collections, androgynous or unisex,” they say. “It blurs the lines of fashion.”
Cunningham says their ultimate goal is to walk “the big shows” at New York and Milan fashion week.
On being Caitlin Dark
Fans have nicknamed Cunningham “Caitlin Dark” as a play on WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Cunningham says fans have been calling them “Goth Caitlin” for years, but they’ll take the comparison to “the world’s best player.”
“If someone wants to call me a nickname and it resonates with them, I think it’s cute, I like it,” they say.
Is Caitlin Cunningham single?
Ladies, you’re in luck! Cunningham is single, but they’re so busy with their career and exploring their artistic dreams that they’re not in the market for a relationship right now, though they’re not opposed to someone catching their eye.
“I’m very ambitious, so I’m not really looking to date, I’m more about this music and career, and I love working,” they say. “If I meet someone and there’s a strong connection — yeah, I’m focused on me right now.”
On Saturday, Fudd posted a mirror selfie on her Instagram stories that had sapphics across the internet cheering because it seemed to make her rumored relationship with Bueckers official.
Fudd took a photo while getting her hair done by hairstylist Haley Logan, and while seeing her in just a robe would normally be what caught people’s eyes, instead, it was Fudd’s phone case that sent tongues wagging.
While posing with her hairstylist and tagging Logan, calling her “The absolute best," Fudd cleverly showed off her cell phone case that reads, “Paige Bueckers’ girlfriend.”
Footage still via Instagram @azzi35
She knew what she was doing.
Predictably, this sent lesbians on TikTok and X into a tailspin, thinking that Fudd had found a cute way to hard-launch their relationship.
While there have been rumors swirling that these besties are actually a queer couple, Fudd and Bueckers have not officially confirmed that they dating and neither has publicly come out.
This isn’t the first time Fudd has flirted with announcing she and Bueckers are dating. In May, she posted a TikTok video with Bueckers that she captioned, ”Princess treatment every time I'm with her” which quickly went viral.
Erik Shoji reacts during an Olympic volleyball send-off celebration after a Women's match between the United States and Netherlands.
Photo by Kaelin Mendez/Getty Images
Erik Shoji has spent a decade spiking balls on the world’s biggest stages for the US men's volleyball team, and now he’s sharing something even more personal.
In a video posted to both his Instagram and TikTok pages, the 35-year-old libero sat beside his snoozing labradoodle and said plainly, “I’m here to tell the world today that I am queer.”
Shoji admitted the moment felt “scary, but freeing at the same time,” noting that self-acceptance took longer than he expected. “I’m stronger, more confident, and more sure of myself than I’ve ever been,” he added, eyes shining. “Given who I am and the platform that I have, this is my moment, and I’m so excited to move forward after this.”
The Hawai’i native has captained the U.S. men’s national team since 2025, but has racked up Olympic bronze medals in Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, plus two FIVB World Cup golds. Off-court, he’s a TikTok influencer known for wholesome roommate bits and behind-the-scenes vlogs from pro stints in Germany, Russia, Italy, and, most recently, Poland’s powerhouse ZAKSA.
Support for his announcement poured in within minutes. USA Volleyball commented, “Proud of you, Erik… we’re honored to stand with you, always.” Fellow Olympian Merrick McHenry, himself an out gay athlete, wrote, “Thank you for being you!” Volleyball Nations League, Mizuno, and a roster of international stars echoed the love.
Outside of McHenry, Shoji also joins the ranks of Kyle Friend, Tim Brewster, and Justin Lui as one of the out professional gay volleyball players.
Shoji hopes the news shows younger players they can thrive without hiding. “Moving forward means feeling completely free and myself,” he said. “I want my life to feel like I have one life, and saying this brings it all together.”
That next chapter starts on June 25, when the U.S. hosts China in Chicago’s VNL leg, Shoji’s first match since coming out. Expect the crowd to roar a little louder when No. 22 jogs onto the court as a world-class defender, now playing wide open.
Aussie tennis star Daria Kasatkina just got engaged to her longtime girlfriend, former Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.
The two athletes started dating three years ago and announced their engagement on June 7 via an adorable Instagram post showing off Zabiiako’s diamond ring.
The pair’s fellow athlete friends took to the comments to send them well-wishes on their upcoming nuptials.
“Ahhh congrats,” wrote British tennis player Katie Boulter.
“I will be at the wedding regardless if you want it or not,” commented Russian-Australian tennis star Arina Rodionova, who frequently stars in the couple’s YouTube channel “What the Vlog” which chronicles life on a tennis tour.
And former American tennis champ Jennifer Brady said, “Congrats Dasha and Natalia!!!"
The star athlete couple’s engagement comes on the heals of Kasatkina being granted a permanent residency by the Australian government after leaving Russia, a country that she has vocally criticized for it’s persecution of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court ruled that "the international LGBT movement is an extremist organization” and in 2024 the first convictions in connection with the law were handed down after a man posted a Pride flag online and a woman wore rainbow frog earrings.
“For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it,” Kasatkina said when she left Russia, WTA Tennis reports.
Injured UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (left) and UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers look on as the team warms up prior to the women's college basketball game between Villanova Wildcats and UConn Huskies on January 29, 2023.M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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