Azzi Fudd was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA draft. She joins a rebuilding team alongside fellow UConn star Paige Bueckers, aiming to elevate the franchise's performance.
Key points
Azzi Fudd was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft.
Fudd averaged 17.3 points at UConn and won a national championship.
She reunites with Paige Bueckers on the Dallas Wings.
The Wings are focused on rebuilding with new talent and coaching.
Azzi FuddPaige BueckersDallas WingsUConn
Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, center, the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA basketball draft, poses with head coach Jose Fernandez, right and general manager Curt Miller during an introductory press conference at Hyatt Regency Dallas, on April 16, 2026. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News)Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, center, the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA basketball draft, poses with head coach Jose Fernandez, right and general manager Curt Miller during an introductory press conference at Hyatt Regency Dallas, on April 16, 2026. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News)
When Azzi Fudd attended a Dallas Wings game at College Park Center last summer, her appearance caused quite the stir. Dozens of fans lined up to greet the UConn star and get her autograph.
This summer, fans will see a lot more of Fudd, whom the Wings welcomed to Dallas on Thursday in an introductory news conference not even 72 hours after the organization took her No. 1 overall in Mondayâs WNBA draft.
âIâm super excited to be here. I canât wait to play,â Fudd said Thursday. âI canât wait to actually be on the court and not in the crowd with everyone.â
Fudd joins the Wings after an All-American season at UConn, where she averaged 17.3 points on 48.1% shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the 38-1 Huskies, who finished in the Final Four. A 3-point shooting threat and strong defender, Fudd won a national championship alongside Paige Bueckers in 2025 and earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the Final Four that year.
The 23-year-old will reunite with Bueckers, the Wingsâ No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The two back-to-back picks are key pieces of a rebuilding franchise that has struggled since moving to North Texas in 2016, but could be on the rise with big moves in free agency that included and adding top talent such as .
Since acquiring Fudd on Monday, the organizationâs leaders have been intentional about making this moment about their latest No. 1 pick, not Bueckers. They remained committed to celebrating Fudd and her individual accomplishments Thursday.
âWe traveled all over the world watching this incredible draft class. But it all came back, always, to Azzi,â Wings general manager Curt Miller said Thursday in his opening remarks. âWords that we heard over and over again in the investigation of her were: âa winner,â âa competitor,â âa hard worker.â Obviously, the skill set speaks for itself.â
Fudd said Thursday she didnât know until Monday the Wings were drafting her.
âI was going to land where I was meant to be, whether that was here with the Wings or at a different organization,â Fudd said.
âWherever that looked like, whoever that was with, I was going to be grateful, and I couldnât be happier with how that worked out,â she continued.
Dallasâ decision to draft Fudd, who was tabbed as one of the best players in this yearâs draft class more than a year ago, has attracted national attention partly because Bueckers confirmed last summer that she and Fudd were in a relationship. When *Dallas Morning News* columnist Kevin Sherrington asked Fudd on Thursday about the status of her relationship with Bueckers, Wings spokesperson Pam Flenke stepped in.
âI understand why you have to ask that question, but weâre going to respectfully decline from commenting on our playersâ personal lives,â she said.
Relationships between players on the same team have been common in the WNBA. In 2025, the Wings signed and , who were a couple. As a coach and general manager in the WNBA, Miller has built a reputation for working with teammates who are also in a relationship.
The discourse surrounding Fudd and Bueckers comes at a hectic time in Fuddâs life. In the span of two weeks, she played in the Final Four in Phoenix, attended the WNBA draft in New York and arrived in Dallas. Training camp starts Sunday.
âThe three Fs are my foundation ⊠my faith, my friends and my family,â Fudd told *The Dallas Morning News* after the news conference. âThereâs a lot going on at all times, but when I have those three things with me at all times, I feel grounded, I feel safe.â
With her Dallas introduction out of the way, Fuddâs focus shifts to training camp, where new coach Jose Fernandez will piece together a new team. Returners from last season include Bueckers, forward and Ogunbowale.
The Wings also signed two 6-4 former forwards to multiyear deals in free agency: and
On Tuesday, the Wings said they were signing , and on Thursday they announced the signing of . Dallas also took in Mondayâs draft and has signed several players to training camp contracts.
Fudd told *The News* she admires the work of the Wings front office.
âSeeing all the new signings, people returning, Iâm so excited,â she said. âI knew some of them, played with some of them in high school. Thereâs some connections.â
Fudd will fit right in with the team theyâre building, Fernandez said.
âThe growth that she made from last year to this year defensively, she just stood out for me and she stood out for our front office,â he said. âThis is what we needed. We were fortunate to have the No. 1 pick, so we could control that decision.â
Q&A
Who is Azzi Fudd and why was she drafted first in the WNBA?
Azzi Fudd is a guard from UConn, known for her scoring ability and defensive skills, and was drafted first overall due to her standout performance in college basketball.
What are Azzi Fudd's career stats from her time at UConn?
During her time at UConn, Azzi Fudd averaged 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, showcasing her offensive and defensive capabilities.
How does Azzi Fudd's relationship with Paige Bueckers impact the Dallas Wings?
Fudd's relationship with Bueckers, who is also a key player for the Wings, adds a personal dynamic to the team and has attracted media attention, but the organization is focusing on their professional roles.
What are the Dallas Wings' plans for the upcoming season with Azzi Fudd?
The Dallas Wings aim to build a competitive team around Fudd and Bueckers, with training camp starting soon and several new signings to enhance their roster.
