Queer athletes — and love — stole the night at the WNBA draft

Azzi Fudd & Olivia Miles at the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Queer women and fans who love them were the clear winners at last night’s WNBA draft at New York’s Hudson Yards.

The top 2 draft picks went to queer athletes Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles, in that order, and one of the sport’s favorite love stories picked up steam.

Fudd, a star guard for the UConn Huskies, was expected by many to grab the No. 1 spot ahead of the night’s festivities and famous orange carpet. However, there was still plenty of fanfare when the Dallas Wings announced they were indeed picking up the high-scorer — reuniting her with girlfriend and former teammate Paige Bueckers, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2025.

When asked about joining Bueckers in Dallas after the announcement, Fudd, stunning in a sequined Retrofête gown, told ESPN, “I’m excited to play again with Paige. She’s an incredible person, an incredible player. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Fudd and Bueckers, known as Pazzi to their die-hard fans, confirmed their relationship last June, after sports enthusiasts speculating for years about their chemistry on and off the court. Since then, they’ve been one of the most enviable couples in the athletic world, proudly wearing T-shirts with each other’s faces on them, celebrating their wins on social media, and starring in plenty of adorable photo ops — despite being geographically separated for most of the year.

At last night’s ceremony, the pair once again made fans swoon by sneaking in special moments together before and after the night’s main event. Bueckers proudly joined Fudd — dawning her first gown of the evening, a silver Coach number — on the orange carpet. When Fudd was called to the stage to accept her Dallas jersey, her soon-to-be teammate beamed with pride from the sidelines in a sporty Nike fit.

But Fudd and Bueckers weren’t the only queer fan-favorites with something to celebrate last night. After Dallas made their selection, the Minnesota Lynx announced they were using their No. 2 pick on Miles. The former TCU guard, who spent four seasons at Notre Dame, wasn’t a shoe-in for the second spot, making the moment that much more sweet.

When the announcement was made, Miles — who was previously romantically linked with former Notre Dame teammate Maddy Westbeld — was embraced by family and her former coach, Mark Campbell. Ss she took the stage in oversized trousers and a suit jacket with the names of loved ones stitched on the inside, her expression shifted from surprise to relief, making for one of the most heartwarming moments of the night.

This article originally appeared on Out: Queer athletes — and love — stole the night at the WNBA draft