— seven months later —

The November day was finally here: Paige, now twenty-four, and Azzi, now twenty-three, would be saying "I do" in a small ceremony, surrounded by the people who they love most.

Paige had always wanted a quiet wedding, which may come to some as a surprise since she was such an outgoing, public person. Azzi never cared about numbers, oddly enough. She just wanted to make sure that her wedding was in autumn—Azzi loved autumn, it was not too hot but not too cold.

The two settled on a vineyard not too far from their San Francisco home, as Paige had been selected first in the 2025 draft by the Golden State Valkyries. Though there was debate about it, Azzi decided to attempt to up her stock by staying at UConn another year. At least she was a national champion and was no longer prohibited from loving Paige out loud now.

The rows of grapevines stretched out as far as the eye could see, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The attire expected of the attendees was "free-spirited" and "boho"... whatever that means. Azzi and Paige understood that as wife and wife, they were already seen as unconventional in many ways. So, why have a conventional wedding?

Paige tied her hair in a low, tight bun. For clothes, she wore a white solid textured button-front short sleeve shirt with straight pants, her collar popped and top of her shirt slightly open. As for Azzi, the people's princess, she wore a white off the shoulder wedding dress with 3D floral cape sleeves and tulle overlay. Her hair was straightened and layered.

The cool part about all of this was that Azzi and Paige ran in the same friendship circles, for the most part. Of course with Paige now being in the WNBA, she had some friends that Azzi didn't. But Paige and Azzi decided on having the 2024 national championship UConn girls be the bridesmaids. A few other exceptions were made, however. The soon-to-be wives also allowed Nika Muhl, Aaliyah Edwards, Amari DeBerry, and Ava to stand with them. That meant that there were seventeen bridesmaids, isn't that fucking crazy?

Chile, anyways... Ava stood in the middle of the seventeen, due to being significantly shorter than everybody else. She had eight to her left, eight to her right. The bridesmaids all wore the same style boho dress: flowing see-through lace with body-con dresses under, but varied in shades of mint green, rust orange, olive green, tangerine orange, burnt umber brown and russet brown. The bridesmaids made a formal walk down the aisle and got into their respective places before either Azzi or Paige came out.

Azzi's parents had been accepting of her sexuality off the bat, in comparison to Paige's. Not that Paige's family did not accept her, but they struggled to align their Christian beliefs with her sexuality. They loved Paige, however, and understood that there was only one of her. As long as she was happy, she could marry whoever she wanted. The Bueckers family would be there every step of the way. Plus, they absolutely loved and adored Azzi for all she has supported Paige through. She was with their daughter through thick and thin, for so long. What better person—man or woman—was there for Paige than Azzi?

Azzi used to listen to the song "Rewrite the Stars" from the greatest showman back when she and Paige were complicated. By then, she used the music to mask her cries at night as life hit her hard. She used to wish for a day like this one. But today, as the lyrics grazed her mind, they had become a reminder of how far she and Paige came. In the end, they did rewrite the stars.

"Ready?" Paige asked Azzi, her father, and Azzi's father. Both women were being walked in by their dads. As everybody nodded, Paige put her hand out. "Teamwork on three!" She beamed with a smile, Azzi rolling her eyes. In everything that Paige did, it was something like a game. Not in a playful sense but in the sense that teamwork was near and dear to her. In fact, having all these women—their teammates at one point or another—be bridesmaids was Paige's idea. "Teamwork on three," Azzi repeated once everybody's hands were in.

"One..."
"Two..."
"Three.."

"Teamwork!"

"I hate you," Azzi joked to Paige afterward, elbowing her lightly. Paige looked down at Azzi's lips, wanting to kiss her but instead deciding to save that energy for the alter. She smiled as her eyes traveled back upward toward Azzi's eyes.

"I love you," Paige replied warmly. Azzi couldn't help but smile, she blushed as she did so.

"KK can we switch spots? The suns blinding me, your hair can cover your peripheral eye" Amari asked of KK in a whisper, who was on Ava's left.

"Girl, boo!" KK (who is finally in her twenties) said in a slightly louder whisper, but not loud enough to be heard by the crowd. "I wanna be next to my girl, ask somebody else." Amari chuckled at KK's decision to decline.

"Fair enough," she smiled. "Caroline?"

"Yeah," Caroline obliged, "I got you, let's switch."

In attendance were a few big names, like Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry, Chet Holgrom and Karl Anthony Towns. In terms of boho dressing, the men clearly didn't understand the assignment as well as the women did. Well, I guess one could argue that Steph at least tried, he wore something similar to Paige's attire, but it was a pastel blue and was long sleeved instead.

The song "perfect for me" by Bradley Marshall began playing as Paige walked down the aisle with her father first, Azzi and hers immediately behind.

"I've never loved someone like you before," the lyrics rang as the two made their way to the makeshift altar, which had been marked by a large circle of bright pink flowers. Paige entered the circle first, then took Azzi's hand to lead her into the circle also.

Geno Auriemma was more than a coach; he was a family man. As the afternoon sun began to settle, he stood between the two women, who he saw as his own daughters. Though he was hard on them, Geno loved Azzi and Paige more than they knew. To solidify his support, Geno went as far as getting an officiating license—just for this occasion.

Geno cleared his throat and began to speak, his voice thick with emotion. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Paige Madison Bueckers and Azzi Fudd in holy matrimony..."

As Geno led the ceremony, Paige snuck glances at Azzi, feeling more in love than ever. She thought back to all the ups and downs they had been through, from the secret longing looks across the court to finally being able to love openly. Azzi looked absolutely perfect in her fitting white dress.

Paige gave Azzi's hand a gentle squeeze as they exchanged vows they had written themselves. "Ms. Fudd," Paige breathed out with a small laugh, "you are the other half of my soul. The peanut butter to my jelly." Ava smiled as she looked on, finally hitting full stride in her realization that Azzi and Paige were simply made for one another.

Though Ava, now twenty-two and a college bachelor degree holder in accounting, understood that her actions at the beginning of the school year wreaked havoc on the soon to be's lives, she also did not regret a thing. If she hadn't done any of what she did, Azzi and Paige would have seen her as a fan, not batting an eye at her. She would've missed the chance to witness such an honest love story come full circle, and she probably would not be with KK right now, who she considered to be the love of her life.

From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were special..." Paige's voice cracked with jovial intensity as she recounted the journey that had led them here. "There's no telling what our future holds, especially as we get ready to solidify our careers, but I find comfort in knowing that I will never have to do it alone. The good and the bad, I get to share it with the person that I love more than anything."

Tears glistened in Azzi's eyes as it was her turn. "Paige," she smiled, "you have truly shown me what real, unconditional love looks like. You showed me that relationships are not linear, a lesson that I can now take with me everywhere. You gave me the courage to embrace my true self..." Azzi paused, squeezing Paige's hands. It was something that the two agreed to do to signify nervousness.

Paige gave Azzi a warm, reassuring look. "You're doing fine" Paige mouthed, discreetly.

Azzi nodded, though barely, making it seem rather subtle in the midst of everything else happening at the moment. "I will spend the rest of my life making you as deliriously happy as you make me" she went on, now speaking with full fledged confidence.

Something about Azzi and Paige's story was alluring. Something about it truly brought one to tears. Guests used the handkerchiefs provided to subtly wipe their tears as they heard the vows, in awe at the courage and patience that it took Paige and Azzi to get this far. As Paige and Azzi's lips met in a passionate kiss, the bridesmaids started the eruption of cheers and applause. Tears trickled down Ava's face as she smiled, wholeheartedly happy for her friends and incredibly thankful for getting a second chance. KK discreetly wiped her girlfriend's tears with her thumb, careful to not draw attention.

At the reception, the newlyweds took the dance floor for their first dance as wives. "Donk" by Soulja Boy played as Azzi threw it back on Paige, a camera panning the two. This would definitely be on ESPNW tonight, but who cares?!

"Shit," KK said as she looked at Ava, talking loudly due to the music behind turned so high up. The wedding group, which had about fifty-five guests, had moved to a humongous tent on the same acre of land. "I want some of what she's having" KK informed Ava, referring to Azzi dancing on Paige.

Ava smiled, grabbing KK's hand as she stood. Ava had always been head bitch growing up, usually taking orders from absolutely nobody. But, Ava had a huge soft spot for KK. She always wanted to satisfy her girlfriend, by all means. "Sounds like a plan" Ava whispered in a seductive manner, grabbing KK's wrist.

The rest of the night passed in a joyful whirlwind of dancing, toasts, and celebration. Lifelong dreams had been realized, barriers shattered. Paige and Azzi's love had, like said earlier, rewritten the stars.

Life for these four: Ava, KK, Paige and Azzi had changed entirely in these last few months. Some graduated and started their careers, cough cough, Ava and Paige, and others grew more confident in their abilities and signed their first NIL deals (again, cough cough, Azzi and KK). Ava and KK had also gotten a luxury apartment in Storrs, just twenty minutes away from UConn's campus. Who knows, maybe in a year or two, we'll be seeing another wedding? Ah, the beauty of growing up.

Cheers, to Mrs. and Mrs. Bueckers-Fudd.