#championship

[ilikeit-art]

[jpen-nico]

Champions!!

I miss the babies...

[mypastnow]

[fanficsofuconnswbb]

worth it

Description: Azzi getting drafted number one, Paige watching her the whole time from the crowd, and everything in between from high school, injuries, prayers, college, championships, and finally realizing it was all worth it because they had each other through it all

They don’t remember the exact words

Not really

But they remember the feeling

The first time they met

Same gym

Same noise

Same energy buzzing through everything

They were just kids

But even then

Something about it felt familiar

A glance that lingered a little too long

A small smile that came too easily

Like they were going to matter to each other later

Even if they didn’t know it yet

⸻

High school comes fast

Everything gets louder

More people

More pressure

More expectations

But somehow

They keep finding each other

Same tournaments

Same sidelines

Same warmups where their eyes always meet without trying

Paige talks a lot

Azzi listens

But when Azzi talks

Paige always listens back

Like it matters more than anything else happening around them

“you’re quiet” Paige says once

Azzi shrugs

“you talk enough for both of us”

Paige laughs

But she’s still looking at her

Like she always is

⸻

Then everything shifts

ACL injury

It happens fast

One second she is playing

The next everything stops

Locker room

Too quiet

Too still

Azzi sits there trying to breathe through it

Trying not to fully accept it

Like if she doesn’t say it out loud

it won’t be real

People move around her

Voices blur together

And then Paige is there

Right in front of her

Not rushing

Not fixing

Just there

Azzi looks up

“…it’s fine” she says quietly

It is not fine

Paige doesn’t argue

She just kneels down in front of her

Close enough to make it feel real

She places her hands gently near Azzi’s leg

Careful

Like she is afraid of hurting her

Then she bows her head

And prays

Right there in the locker room

Soft

Quiet

Just for her

Azzi freezes

Because she did not expect that

Not here

Not like this

When Paige finishes she looks up

“…you are going to be okay”

Azzi swallows

And nods

Slowly

For the first time

she believes it a little

⸻

Recovery is long

Painful

Slow

Frustrating

But Paige never leaves

Calls at night

Texts that do not need replies

Showing up just to sit with her

“you will be back” Paige says

Azzi looks down

“…yeah”

Unsure

Paige bumps her shoulder

“…I mean it”

“…you are not done”

Azzi looks at her

And something in her settles

⸻

College becomes real

Decisions

Pressure

Everything stacking

Paige already knows

University of Connecticut

And she says it casually

“…it would be nice if you came too”

Azzi raises an eyebrow

“nice?”

Paige shrugs

“…for you”

Azzi smiles

Because she understands exactly what that means

⸻

Freshman year at UConn

Everything is faster

Harder

Different

But Paige is still the same

Always checking in

Always nearby

“you good”

Before practice

After games

In quiet moments

Azzi always nods

Even when she is not

Because Paige being there

makes it easier

⸻

Then it flips

Paige gets injured

And suddenly Azzi understands

The waiting

The frustration

The silence

Paige tries to be strong

“…I am fine”

Azzi just looks at her

“…you do not have to do that with me”

Paige exhales

And stops pretending

And Azzi stays

Just like Paige stayed

⸻

Then again

Azzi

ACL again

Meniscus

Too much at once

Too familiar

This time it breaks her a little

Paige sits beside her

Quiet first

Then

“…this sucks”

Azzi lets out a small laugh

“…yeah”

Paige leans back

“…but you are still you”

Azzi frowns

“…what does that mean”

Paige looks at her

“…it means you are still the girl I prayed over in that locker room”

That stops everything

Paige continues softly

“…and you got through it before”

“…you will again”

Azzi leans slightly closer

And that is enough

⸻

Time passes

Slow then fast

And suddenly

Championship

2024 to 2025

Confetti falling everywhere

Noise everywhere

But it feels different

Not heavy

Just earned

They find each other instantly

Like always

Arms around each other

Laughing through exhaustion

“…we did it” Paige says

Azzi shakes her head smiling

“…we really did”

And it feels bigger than basketball

It feels like everything

⸻

Paige’s draft

Azzi in the crowd

Looking up

Watching her

Same soft look

Same pride

Paige finds her

Even in all the noise

Because she always does

⸻

Now it is Azzi

Number one

On the stage

Paige in the crowd

Looking up

Same moment

Just reversed

Still the same

⸻

Later

It is quiet

Finally

Just them

Sitting close

Shoulders touching

Paige leans her head against Azzi

“…kind of crazy”

Azzi hums

“what”

“…everything”

A pause

“…everything we went through”

Azzi nods slowly

Thinking

Feeling all of it

“…yeah”

Silence

Comfortable

Then Azzi speaks

Soft

“You know after everything”

Paige looks at her

“…what”

“…all the pain”

A breath

“…emotionally and physically”

Paige listens closely

“…it was worth it”

Paige pauses

“…why”

Azzi turns fully toward her

“…I have seen you at your lowest”

“…you have seen me at mine”

Paige does not look away

Azzi continues softly

“…and I think in the end”

“…it was worth it”

Closer now

“…if it is with you”

“…it is worth it”

Everything goes still

Paige exhales

Her hand finds Azzi’s

“…yeah”

Soft

Certain

“…it is”

She leans in

Slow

Careful

Their foreheads touch first

A pause

Then a soft kiss

Gentle

Quiet

Like everything finally makes sense

Azzi’s hand rests against her side

Holding on

When they pull back

They stay close

Foreheads still together

Small smiles

No rush to move

Because after everything

They are still here

Still choosing each other

And now

they know it was always going to be worth it.

[naqmeh-art]

Lando Norris Fanart 🧡💚

Colored pencil on paper✍️🏻

Hope you like it as much as I do🫶🏻

Art prints ➡️ link in bio

[celellken]

Here are a few of my thoughts about our duo:

Lando’s self criticism isn’t petulant and defeated—it’s aching, full of intent, and a desire to deliver. He understands his mistakes and shoulders responsibility, all while continuing to show up with openness and honesty. It’s grit and resilience. A championship mentality.

Oscar’s natural stoicism does not lack passion and intensity. It shows a relentless pursuit of excellence under pressure and a quiet confidence that is never rooted in arrogance. He bounces back quickly, not because he’s cold, but because he’s passionate. A championship mentality.

They are different. Complementary. A championship won by either one of them will look differently. I stand by them both. I believe in them both.

[trentaa4]

I just can feel the sincere relationship they have just from that smile when she mentioned Carlos.