Azzi Fudd's highly anticipated WNBA debut was a quiet one. And now, her first home game with the Dallas Wings has been put on hold entirely.

The No. 1 overall draft pick was sidelined for the Wings' home opener against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday due to a right knee injury. The team made the announcement just before tipoff, leaving fans eager to see the former UConn star in action disappointed.

Fudd logged just 18 minutes off the bench in the season opener at Indiana over the weekend, scoring only three points—a far cry from the 1,687 points she poured in during her collegiate career. While that limited playing time raised eyebrows, Wings head coach Jose Fernandez declined to link it to any knee issues.

"I'm not going to get into the minutes situation on the opening night," Fernandez told reporters in Dallas. "Out of an abundance of caution and her long-term health, we're keeping her out tonight."

This latest setback adds to a challenging injury history for the 22-year-old guard. Fudd first tore her right ACL and MCL in April 2019 during a USA Basketball event. She then suffered another tear of the same ACL, along with her medial meniscus, during a UConn practice in November 2023, which ended her final college season prematurely.

Despite those concerns, Fernandez emphasized that no red flags emerged during the pre-draft evaluation process. "I'm not going to discuss anything medically," he said. "She's a big part of this team. There's a reason why we drafted her No. 1. And she's going to have a great season for the Wings."

The Wings have big plans for Fudd, who was selected first overall to form a dynamic duo with her former UConn teammate, Paige Bueckers, in Dallas. For now, patience is the name of the game.

"She was great," Fernandez added, noting a positive phone call with Fudd before the game. "The most important thing for her is that it's a long season. She just finished playing a long season, and we have to protect her."