DHJ Quick Take: Azzi Fudd Has Acclimated Quickly
- The Dynamic Floor Spacer: Jose Fernandez being vocal about Azzi Fudd “deferring” is a calculated tactical push. For a team that shot a league-worst 30.4% from deep in 2025, Fudd’s 42.2% career UConn average is the engine that will allow Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to operate in gaps.
- Beyond the Arc: The most encouraging takeaway from Grace Berger and Maddy Siegrist is Fudd’s defensive utility. Described as able to “pick up full court,” Fudd is showing an all-around impact. Her ability to defend at a high level allows Fernandez to keep her on the floor in late-game defensive situations and in various lineup combinations.
- The UConn Synergy: The “automatic” connection between Bueckers and Fudd in 5-on-5 action—specifically the curling actions into the shooting pocket. This “shortcut” in installation is a massive advantage for a staff trying to implement a “totally different language” in just three weeks.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Three days into her first professional training camp, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd has impressed every corner of the Dallas Wings organization, from second-year star Paige Bueckers and first-year head coach Jose Fernandez to the veteran core tasked with helping her acclimate to the WNBA.
The 23-year-old guard arrived in Dallas as the headline selection of the Wings’ offseason overhaul, reuniting with reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Bueckers after the pair won a national championship together at UConn in 2025. Fudd closed her five-year college career as a fifth-year senior in 2025-26, averaging 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 44.7% from three on 6.7 attempts per game. She finished her UConn tenure at 42.2% from three on 6.0 attempts per game across 115 games and earned first-team AP All-American honors in her final season.
Through Day 3, the messaging around Fudd has been consistent from every voice inside the building.
Azzi Fudd on Adjusting to the WNBA
Fudd said her vantage point watching Bueckers navigate a difficult rookie season last year gave her a head start on understanding what awaits her at the professional level.
“The W is a different game than college. Seeing her, she had the ball in her hands a lot more, a lot of pick-and-rolls. The physicality and the pace, those are all adjustments,” Fudd told Dallas Hoops Journal.
She credited Bueckers’ response to a losing rookie campaign as a model she intends to carry into her own first year.
“That’s something special about Paige, her mindset is phenomenal. She always sees things as a challenge and an opportunity to grow,” Fudd said. “She’s not used to losing, but she took those moments and continued to grow, be a great leader, and make everyone around her better. That’s something I can adopt for myself.”
The Wings have embraced Fudd’s arrival, with a large contingent of teammates attending her introductory press conference at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas in pink to take part in the franchise’s welcome theme. Ever since she arrived in North Texas, her teammates have welcomed her as she adjusts to the city.
“I felt so welcome. There’s no better way than having familiar faces and new teammates there,” Fudd said. “Everyone has been welcoming with open arms. It definitely helps. I’m coming into a new environment, not knowing where I’m going, and having people around me supporting me, it’s an amazing feeling.”
She said her approach to the long WNBA season will mirror the mindset that carried UConn through its 2025 championship run.
“Just working on getting better and continuing to grow,” Fudd said. “It’s a long season. Even in college, how you start the season doesn’t really matter, it’s how you finish. As long as we’re getting better as individuals and as a team, that’s a win.”
Jose Fernandez: ‘Shoot the Damn Ball’
Fernandez made his expectations clear from the opening practice on Sunday, telling reporters he pushed Fudd to stop deferring in actions specifically designed to get her open looks.
“I had to yell at her and tell her, ‘Don’t pass up open shots.’ Especially in some of the actions we’re going to run for her, she better shoot the damn ball if she’s open,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
“That’s what she does. She can’t pass up open shots. There are situations where the floor isn’t balanced or rebounding opportunities aren’t there, and we’ll talk about those, but she needs to do what she was brought here to do and space the floor.”
Fudd, speaking to reporters after the same practice, said the message was familiar. She foresees the adjustment to being aggressive as easy.
“Seems to be a common trend. I mean, I don’t know. I want to share the love, but remembering to shoot when I’m open, my teammates remind me of that. So it will be an easy adjustment,” Fudd said
Fernandez laid out the full thinking behind the Fudd pick during his Day 3 media availability, framing her selection within Dallas’ broader offseason roster plan. The Wings ranked 12th in the WNBA in three-point percentage in 2025 at 30.4%, making Fudd’s shooting gravity one of the most direct roster upgrades Dallas made this offseason.
“When you look at roster construction, we needed leadership in the locker room and specific things at different positions. That’s what we addressed in free agency and the draft,” Fernandez said. “We took Azzi Fudd because she was the best player for this franchise and a great fit in my system. She has a unique skill set. She can really shoot the basketball and create off the bounce. She’s also improved defensively.”
Fernandez said Fudd’s next phase of development will involve learning how WNBA defenses respond to her shooting threat.
“Now it’s about her adjusting to how teams guard her, but she’s surrounded by good veterans and post players who can create opportunities for her,” Fernandez explained. “We’re still missing some key pieces right now, but there was no doubt. We needed to address three-point shooting and add a floor spacer. She fits that, and she still has a lot of growth ahead of her.”
Veterans Point to Humility and a More Complete Game
One of the things that has stood out most about Fudd to Dallas Hoops Journal through the opening stretch of camp is her intentionality on every rep. She takes pride in doing things the right way and has earned consistent praise for the extra work she puts in after practice to keep getting shots up and refining her game.
Veteran guard Grace Berger said Fudd’s demeanor has stood out as much as her game through the opening practices.
“Off the court, you never know what to expect when someone comes in with a lot of attention and notoriety. She’s the No. 1 pick for a reason and had a great college career, but she’s incredibly humble. You wouldn’t know any of her accomplishments by how she approaches each day,” Berger told Dallas Hoops Journal. “She works hard, she’s one of the first in the gym, stretching like a veteran.”
Berger added that Fudd has shown a more versatile game than her shooting profile suggests.
“On the court, she can fit into any system. She’s obviously a great shooter, but there’s more to her game than I realized. She can drive, defend, and pick up full court,” Berger told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’m excited to see her continue to grow as a pro.”
Forward Maddy Siegrist, entering her fourth WNBA season, pointed to the structure Fudd brings from UConn as a significant addition.
“I just think the structure. Obviously, coming from Connecticut, that’s a really strong program. The structure within the offense, defense, and the standard every day, that’s huge,” Siegrist said. “Playing with Paige last year, I got to see that. I played against Azzi, but I hadn’t played with her until the last few days, which has been great. She’s been a great addition. Anyone who can shoot the ball that efficiently has a spot in this league.”
Second-year guard Aziaha James echoed the humility angle, saying Fudd’s shooting instincts have translated immediately.
“She’s a natural-born shooter. Right away, you can see it. It’s amazing to watch,” James told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Off the court, she’s humble, poised, competitive, and aggressive. That’s just who she is. It’s natural for her.”
James, who has taken an active role in helping Fudd acclimate, said the rookie’s background in a winning program at UConn has shortened the adjustment curve.
“Just being there for her. She’s coming from a winning program, so she already understands a lot,” James told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’m just helping where I can, but she’s going to be special. I can’t wait to see her this season.”
Center Li Yueru said her early chemistry work with Fudd has focused on setting screens, creating space, and building pick-and-roll communication on the defensive end.
“She’s a really good shooter. I’m trying to find the best ways to set screens for her and create space,” Li told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’m also learning how to defend with her, especially in pick-and-roll situations. Sometimes we still need to communicate more, but I feel like we’re already doing a lot of good things, and I hope that carries into games.”
Paige Bueckers Delivers a Detailed Scouting Report
Bueckers knows Fudd’s game better than anyone in the Wings organization and detailed what Fudd brings to a winning roster, with her Day 1 scouting report going well beyond shooting.
“She impacts the game in so many ways. Obviously, her shooting, but also her ability to slash, cut, her IQ, and defensively disrupt things,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “She’ll take on tough assignments, has great hands and length, and plays the right way.”
Bueckers singled out Fudd’s shooting as a direct fit for what Dallas needed in the offseason, but it’s far from the only way she impacts the game.
“She’s a 40-plus percent three-point shooter, so her spacing alone helps us,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “She brings versatility and makes a big impact on both ends.”
That chemistry was already visible Tuesday, when the Wings moved into 5-on-5 action for the first time this week. Fudd competed defensively while displaying immediate synergy with Bueckers, as if they had never spent any time apart as teammates. On one possession, Fudd curled off a screen toward the middle of the floor, and Bueckers delivered a pass that led her right into her shooting pocket, allowing Fudd to rise up and knock down a three-pointer without breaking stride.
What Comes Next
The Wings consider Wednesday as Day 4, the team’s first scheduled off day, before returning to the practice floor Thursday for Day 5.
Fudd’s first opportunity to take the floor in a Wings uniform comes in the preseason opener on April 30 against the Indiana Fever, with the regular season opener set for May 9 on the road against the Fever.
More Azzi Fudd & Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘She’s A Pro’: Paige Bueckers Is Built Different In Year 2, And Jose Fernandez Says It Will Show In Clutch Time
- ‘A Bright Future’: Alanna Smith Details Picking Dallas Wings In Free Agency, Expanding Her Game
- ‘A Dream Come True’: Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Realize Decade-Long Journey To Dallas Wings Backcourt
- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 2 Interviews: Jose Fernandez, Alysha Clark, Maddy Siegrist And Odyssey Sims
- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 1 Recap: Jose Fernandez Sets Tone With ‘No-BS’ Culture
- ‘She Better Shoot The Damn Ball’: Jose Fernandez Challenges Azzi Fudd On Day 1 Of Training Camp
- ‘Landed Where I Was Meant to Be’: Azzi Fudd Introduced By Dallas Wings, Embraces New Journey
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