Paige Bueckers Addresses Questions About Azzi Fudd Relationship After Wings Press Conference Drama

Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers on July 19, 2025
Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty

The Wings star, who was the first overall pick one year before Fudd, said she understands that media members "have a job to do," which includes asking questions about players, but said she'd like to keep the conversation basketball-related moving forward.

"Me and Azzi have always been the most professional; we’ve always conducted ourselves as such and we’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court," Bueckers said, adding, "And thats what we'll continue to do."

Bueckers said she's "not entirely sure if this is new to media members" or to "social media" and "new fans of the WNBA," before stating, "Me and Azzi are not new to this, we've been doing this a long time, we have countless reps at it, and we'll continue to use that experience to show up and be professionals, great teammates, great leaders, the hardest workers."

Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd at the 2025 WNBA Draft
Credit: Steve Eichner/WWD via Getty

Before concluding her address on Monday, Bueckers made it clear that her relationship with Fudd off the court had "nothing to do with" the Wings' decision to draft Fudd at No. 1.

"Azzi Fudd was the number one draft pick because she earned it, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with she is," Bueckers told reporters, complimenting Fudd on her "resilience" and "strength" on and off the court.

"She's her own great, individual person and she should be celebrated as such," Bueckers concluded.

The longtime friends, who first met in 2017 at a USA Basketball U16 national team camp, went on to play together at UConn and won the 2025 national championship. Three months later, amid months of rumors about a romance, Bueckers referred to Fudd as her girlfriend during a WAG Talk interview.

During Fudd's introductory press conference with the Wings earlier this month, an executive from the team shut down a question about their relationship.

“Paige announced last year on TikTok that y’all were a couple,” a reporter said to Fudd. “And I’m wondering if that’s still the case and if so, have y’all talked to any other couples in the league about how they negotiate that dynamic?”

Before Fudd could answer, a staffer interrupted, saying, “I understand why you have to ask that question but we’re gonna respectfully decline from commenting on our players’ personal lives."

In an interview later that day, Fudd did talk about Bueckers, calling the 2025 No. 1 pick her "best friend."

"It’s so special. Here I am, no control in where I get drafted and I get to play with my best friend again," Fudd said during an interview with WFAA. "So, it really is special."

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