The 2026 WNBA Draft delivered a storybook moment for the Dallas Wings and basketball fans alike. With the coveted first overall pick, the Wings selected sharpshooting guard Azzi Fudd, a move that not only adds elite talent but also reunites one of the sport's most dynamic duos.
An emotional Fudd, still processing the life-changing moment at the draft in New York, struggled to find the words. "I'm not really sure I have words to describe that feeling," she admitted to reporters. "I don't think it's fully sunk in."
What did feel immediately clear, however, was the perfect fit in Dallas. The Wings' selection reunites Fudd with her former UConn teammate and close friend, Paige Bueckers, the Wings' No. 1 pick from the 2025 draft. Together, they led the Huskies to a national championship, and their on-court chemistry is already legendary. "Paige is someone that makes playing basketball easy," Fudd said, highlighting how their prior experience will accelerate their pro synergy. "I think just knowing how to play with her, play off of her, will only help."
Fudd was quick to emphasize that her excitement extends beyond the reunion, pointing to the immense potential of the entire Wings roster. She reflected on their injury-plagued time at UConn, noting, "There's still so much left on the table and so much unknown... I can't wait to play with every single one of them."
Back in Dallas, the front office echoed that sentiment while celebrating Fudd's individual brilliance. Wings GM Curt Miller and coach Jose Fernandez stressed that while the partnership with Bueckers is a tremendous bonus, the pick was first and foremost about Fudd's own transcendent skill set. "This night is about Azzi," Miller stated, highlighting her elite shooting and intelligent off-ball movement as foundational pieces for the franchise's future.
For the Wings, this draft isn't just about adding a star; it's about building a cornerstone. By pairing Fudd's otherworldly shooting with Bueckers' playmaking genius, Dallas has instantly constructed one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league, promising a new era of electrifying basketball.