The stage was set for a memorable afternoon in Arlington, Texas, as the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings squared off in a game that had fans buzzing long before tip-off. For the first time in recent memory, the last four No. 1 overall WNBA draft picks shared the same court: Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark for the Fever, and Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd for the Wings. The matchup promised fireworks, and it delivered—but not entirely in the way many had hoped.

"It’s crazy," Clark said ahead of the game, acknowledging the rarity of the moment. "Actually, in that game, the last four No. 1 picks will be playing. So I don’t know how many times that’s ever happened. Obviously, with me and my teammate (Aliyah Boston), and then Azzi and Paige, so pretty cool dynamic, and I think it just speaks to the excitement of the players in our league." Clark added, "Obviously, the talent level that has been coming in, and I think it should be a really great game. We played in the preseason. Obviously, that’s completely different, but I expect our arena to be a really loud, fun environment."

While the game lived up to the hype as a high-scoring affair—the Wings edged out the Fever 107-104—the spotlight also fell on Fudd, the most recent No. 1 pick making her WNBA debut. Unfortunately, her first professional outing was a quiet one. Fudd didn’t start the game, with the Wings opting for veteran backcourt duo Arike Ogunbowale and Odyssey Sims instead. She checked in quickly off the bench and logged 18 minutes in the win, but struggled to make an impact on the stat sheet.

Fudd finished with just three points on two shot attempts, marking the fewest points any No. 1 overall pick has scored in a rookie debut over the past 20 WNBA seasons. It’s an unfortunate piece of history for a player who entered the league with so much promise. Still, the Wings found a way to win, and the season is just beginning. As Fudd settles into the pro game, fans and the team alike will be looking for more offensive production from the rookie—and there’s plenty of time for her to rewrite the narrative.