“Miss You…” – Fan Who Lost Cancer Battle Remembered By Paige Bueckers’ UConn Associates

In April 2024, the UConn team, led by Paige Bueckers, visited the Jewish Community Center of West Hartford, Connecticut, for a bat mitzvah. There were no PR teams or photographers directing them for the ‘perfect shot,’ allowing them to truly soak in and enjoy the time with fans. On their way back, the entire UConn team realised how much their bond had grown with a special friend who became a special part of their lives— Abby Zittoun.

The team had a blast with Abby’s family and friends—playing cornhole, musical chairs, dancing, and eating tacos. They forgot about the championship loss from a week earlier and let go of the worries about the upcoming season, simply enjoying the moment with no fanfare to stop them. “We were there,” Bueckers said, “for Abby.”

Even though the UConn stars were her favorites, Abby wasn’t star-struck; she simply wanted to live the moment to the fullest, spreading joy as she always did. “Let me teach you this dance,” 10-year-old Abby once said to Westbrook, all spirited and spunky. She was there to light up the stage, the event, and bring smiles to everyone’s faces. And it was with that same smile that she left the world on October 15, 2024, after bravely battling cancer.

The UConn team wore shirts adorned with the “Love, Abby” logo as they returned to Hartford for a game against Butler at the XL Center. The most touching part? The magical words were handwritten by Abby herself, surrounded by cute little hearts. And now, remembering her on what would have been her birthday — May 9 — many UConn players shared heartfelt stories on their Instagram accounts.

Nika Muhl shared a black-and-white photo of the UConn Huskies team, while Carolin Ducharme posted moments spent with Abby, wishing her “Happy Birthday” and writing, “miss you and that smile more than u know everyday.” The love didn’t stop there—she shared more pictures of Abby, one of them captioned, “I love you to the moon and back forever sweet girl.” She also added “sweetest face” as the caption on a childhood photo of Abby. Allie Ziebell shared that same picture on her Instagram story.

We’re honored to celebrate the memory of our friend Abby today pic.twitter.com/WaELF5vyA5

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) February 2, 2025

Paige Bueckers and the UConn team shared a special bond with Abby, who was often there cheering on her favorite team—not just at games, but even at the training facility, where she played on the sidelines with a dog. Coach Geno Auriemma called Abby an inspiration, praising the courage she showed while battling cancer with a brave face. 

Paige Bueckers and her UConn teammates showered love on Abby.

“So, in between the tears, please consider honoring her memory by doing something that brings you joy, spreads love, or creates an impact on your community. Donate blood, make a donation to your favorite charity, tell a ‘dad’ joke, watch your favorite Marvel movie, play ‘Broadway hits’ on your Spotify playlist, have a meal with friends/family, get a mani/pedi, play 9 holes of golf, text or call a friend you have not spoken to in a while, or help an elderly person cross the street,” wrote Abby’s family on what would have been her 14th birthday.

Moments spent with Abby were truly cherished by many, and the UConn stars were among those lucky enough to experience her light firsthand.

After winning the National Championship in 2025, the UConn team was celebrating on the court, but missed Abby at the same time. “She would be so happy,” Ducharme said with her voice slightly cracking. “I know she’s freaking out, and it just kind of all came together perfectly that we had the perfect angel on our side. It was meant to be that this was the year we get it, for her.”

Paige Bueckers also shared a special bond with Abby. She wore the team’s “Love, Abby” warmup shirt from their Play4Kay game while attending the press conference to accept the Wade Trophy. Following Abby’s passing, Paige honored her by calling her “Our superwoman” in a heartfelt post, sharing a photo of the two hugging. She also reshared Caroline Ducharme’s tribute, adding the caption, “Forever our Abby.” Azzi Fudd, too, had shared her own heartfelt message, adding “The sweetest soul” caption to Ducharme’s post. Fudd usually visited Abby’s house to check on the star kid.

From taking inspiration from the Huskies team to inspiring them for the games, Abby really touched everyone in the locker room and will continue to do so. There are no words that can describe Abby’s shining resilience and impact.

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