The Dallas Wings are doubling down on UConn's legendary pipeline, selecting guard Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft. This marks the second consecutive year the Wings have chosen a Husky star first overall, following last year's selection of Paige Bueckers.

Dallas is banking on Fudd to be a transformative addition, specifically to address a critical team need: three-point shooting. After a 2025 season where outside scoring was a struggle, Fudd arrives as a career 42% shooter from deep in college, offering the elite floor-spacing the Wings' offense craves.

Fudd's collegiate resume is packed with winning pedigree. A three-time All-Big East selection and a first-team AP All-American in her final season, her crowning achievement was leading UConn to the 2025 national championship alongside backcourt partner Paige Bueckers. Fudd was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after the Huskies' title run, cementing her status as a clutch performer.

Her basketball roots run deep in more ways than one. Azzi was named after Jennifer Azzi, a Stanford legend and professional star from the 1990s, a tribute from her mother to a player she admired. This connection adds a layer of legacy to her already impressive story.

By going first overall, Fudd joins an exclusive club, becoming the seventh UConn player to be selected with the top pick—a list that reads like a who's who of WNBA greatness. With a proven winner's mentality and a sharpshooter's touch, Azzi Fudd isn't just a new name for Wings fans to learn; she's a cornerstone piece meant to help elevate Dallas to new heights. The future in Dallas just got a lot brighter.