Wings Nab Azzi Fudd No. 1, Pairing UConn Stars Bueckers and Fudd

Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller held the top pick after a lottery shakeup, opting for Azzi Fudd amid a wide-open draft class lacking a consensus star. The selection marked the Wings' second straight No. 1 pick, following Paige Bueckers in 2025, and sparked an eruption of applause at The Shed venue.[2][3] Fudd, a sharpshooting guard from UConn, steps into a roster featuring elite talent like Ogunbowale, a four-time All-Star averaging 21.0 points last season. Fudd's college career at UConn showcased her scoring prowess, with career averages of 14.7 points and 42.5% from three-point range across 68 games despite injury setbacks.[1][2] Post-draft, she sat down with Jordan Robinson on the Orange Carpet, expressing excitement about joining Bueckers in Dallas: "It's surreal playing with my UConn sister."[1] Wings beat reporter Myah Taylor highlighted Fudd's on-court fit—elite shooting and off-ball movement—plus her marketability to boost a franchise coming off a 17-19 record in 2025.[2] The 2026 draft, the WNBA's 30th, celebrated UCLA's historic night with multiple first-round selections, but Dallas stole the spotlight with its UConn reunion.[2] Fudd's rookie contract guarantees around $500,000 over four years under the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement, positioning her for immediate impact on a team eyeing its first Finals appearance since 2006.[3] As training camps open next month, the Bueckers-Fudd duo projects as the league's most potent young backcourt, blending Bueckers' playmaking (8.5 assists per game as a rookie) with Fudd's perimeter threat. Veterans like Ogunbowale provide scoring punch, while Satou Sabally's return from injury adds frontcourt depth. Dallas enters 2026 with WNBA-high title odds at +800, per early betting lines.