The Dallas Wings Will Fudd Around and Find Out How Special Azzi Is
Wings add the NCAA's sharpshooter to elevate their emerging core in Dallas.
The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The University of Connecticut guard joins Dallas after a stellar season to finish her college career. Fudd was recognized with All-America honors from the AP, USBWA and Wooden Award. Fudd set single-season career highs in points (673), rebounds (100), assists (117), blocks (18) and steals (97). The 5’11 guard averaged a career-high 17.7 points per game on career-high shooting percentages (.481 field goal percentage/.447 three-point percentage/.955 free throw percentage).
“Azzi Fudd is one of the best shooters in our game today,” Executive Vice President and General Manager Curt Miller stated. “She has a lightning-quick release and her movement off the ball is elite. She competes hard defensively and is an efficient, unselfish player who knows how to win. In an outstanding draft class, she stood out to us not only with her basketball skills but with her intangibles. She is a great teammate and has outstanding basketball IQ. Azzi brings to the Wings the type of character that we want in our locker room. We are ecstatic to add her to our Wings family.”
Wings had the second worst three-point percentage last season and second worst three-point percentage in the past decade.
Azzi Fudd’s D1 rankings:
3PT made - 1st (117)
3PT attempted - 12th (262)
3PT% - 5th (44.7%)
Fudd is the only player in the top 45 3PT% to have over 250 attempts and ranked 5th.
Miller stated in the post-draft press conference that Fudd was their pick all long and their free agency additions just made it more clear. Wings added Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard and Awak Kuier. The need for a big was no longer a higher priority than three-point shooting and the ability to make a big impact on the game without having a high usage on the ball. That is Azzi Fudd and why the franchise had her as their pick to play alongside Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. Dallas Wings CEO and Managing Partner Greg Bibb says the Dallas Wings “known for a little while” that Azzi Fudd was going to be their No. 1 pick. He mentioned the shooting struggles the team has had and Azzi strengths make her “such a great fit”.
Fudd believes she is a great fit as well.
“Pure excitement. I can’t wait. Obviously Paige, Arike, getting to watch them & then seeing the new pieces, I’m so excited.” Fudd stated after being selected by the Wings. “I can’t wait to get there. I can’t wait to learn how to play w/ them, learn how they play, their style of play & how I can contribute... I’m a great shooter, but I think something special is I know how to space the floor, I know how to read the game. I know how to do what my team needs. Whether that’s spacing, cutting, off ball movement. Whatever it is, I’m gonna do that.”
Fudd stated her confidence is something that grew this season compared to previous seasons at UConn. The confidence led to her joining an exclusive list as she became the seventh UConn player to be selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft. The list is Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. One of the qualities these players have in common is the competitive will to be the best.
First-year head coach Jose Fernandez is excited to work with Fudd and complimented her personal investment and growth while analyzing her game throughout the season, stating Fudd wants to be great, the great ones want to be coached and told the truth. He stated Fudd does things outside of what is required from her. The follows her mentality of doing what is needed for the team, a star who puts the team before herself. Fernandez also highlighted the player development on his staff and how important it was to him and the success of the team. He stated that he wanted to see Fudd develop her on-ball creation this upcoming season and looks forward to getting her in the gym and starting the work on the court. The elite shooting, cutting and defensive pressure will be a seamless fit around the roster Miller is filling out and if Fudd develops on-ball creation, it just opens up another level for Fudd at the next level.
Fudd reunites with her college teammate Bueckers and look to keep building off the success they had in college. During their time at UConn, Fudd and Bueckers made two Final Four appearances which includes 2025, the last game they played together, winning the 2025 NCAA National Championship. Fudd was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and Bueckers went on to be drafted first overall to the Dallas Wings. The experience of being teammates will help Fudd transition to the WNBA sooner rather than later. Fudd feels they didn’t have a lot of time on the court together as both players dealt with injuries and feels like there was a lot left on the table and so much potential for them to accomplish together. That leads to them both back together trying to push the Wings into a new era that leads to more wins.
“I’m excited to play again with Paige. She’s an incredible person, incredible player. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.” Fudd stated on stage after announced as the first overall pick.
Fudd is not only excited to play with Bueckers again but all of her new teammates and looks forward to the next chapter in her basketball career.
The Dallas Wings also selected Zee Spearman from Tennessee with the 31st pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The 6’4” forward is the first Tennessee alum to be drafted by the Wings since the organization moved to Arlington. Spearman averaged 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds over 30 games during her senior season, scoring in double digits in 16 games. She led the team in offensive rebounds (2.9) and blocks (1.3) per game.
“We were excited that Zee was available to start the third round” Miller stated. “She brings excellent length and athleticism and has shown the ability to play inside and out. She has only started to scratch the surface of her potential.”