DHJ Quick Take: Azzi Fudd’s Status for Thursday
- Fudd Status: Azzi Fudd is officially listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against Minnesota. After being held out of Tuesday’s home opener, she participated in the team walkthrough and shooting drills on Wednesday. The medical staff will make the final determination based on her status following Thursday’s shootaround.
- Bueckers’ Aggressiveness: Jose Fernandez stated he spoke with Paige Bueckers on Wednesday regarding her offensive role. He noted a need for increased aggressiveness in isolation and transition situations as she continues to balance playmaking and scoring.
- Cleaning the Glass: Following the 11 offensive rebounds surrendered to Atlanta, Fernandez identified defensive solidity as a primary focus. He noted that perimeter players will be required to assist the frontcourt on rebounds to prevent second-chance scoring opportunities.
- Bench Rotation: The Wings’ reserves outscored Atlanta’s bench 16-5 on Tuesday. Fernandez cited the depth of the frontcourt—including Maddy Siegrist, Awak Kuier, and Alysha Clark—as a factor that leads to “tough decisions” regarding night-to-night minute distributions.
- Scouting Minnesota: Fernandez highlighted the balance of Cheryl Reeve’s roster, specifically noting the court vision of rookie guard Olivia Miles. The matchup features two teams that evaluated the same top-tier talent during the 2026 draft process.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx at College Park Center because of a right knee injury, per the team’s official injury report.
Fudd participated in the Wings’ walkthrough and shot at practice on Wednesday, head coach Jose Fernandez said, after being ruled out of Tuesday’s 77-72 home opener loss to the Atlanta Dream. Fudd’s status will depend on how she feels and will be determined by the medical staff.
“She walked through today, and she shot. So we’ll see how tonight goes and how she gets through shootaround, and then see how she feels and what our medical staff says. So we’ll see,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Fudd appeared in the Wings’ season-opening 107-104 road win at Indiana before being held out against Atlanta. She made her first WNBA 3-pointer and finished with 3 points in 18 minutes. Dallas (1-1) used a starting lineup of Odyssey Sims, Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith for the second straight game on Tuesday. The Wings led by 9 in the first half and carried a 41-38 advantage into the locker room before being outscored 39-31 across the second half and 19-13 in the fourth quarter.
The Wings’ matchup against Minnesota marks the second game of a three-game homestand at College Park Center.
Jose Fernandez Praises Cheryl Reeve, Highlights Minnesota Lynx’s Balance
Fernandez complimented Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and identified guard play as Minnesota’s defining strength to open the season.
“Cheryl does a wonderful job. I mean, well-coached. I like their balance,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “McBride, Courtney, Olivia’s come out of the gate playing really, really well. They always find a way because they know how they wanna play and what she’s done there.”
Fernandez specifically highlighted rookie guard Olivia Miles, whom Dallas evaluated extensively during the 2026 WNBA Draft process before ultimately selecting Fudd at No. 1.
“Court vision, pick and roll. Sees the floor and sprays it all over the place,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Dallas Wings Need Better Defense, Shot Selection After Loss to Atlanta Dream
Fernandez tied Tuesday’s breakdowns directly to the areas Dallas must clean up before facing Minnesota. The Wings shot 4-of-26 from 3-point range against Atlanta, were outscored 19-13 in the fourth quarter, and surrendered 11 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points. Atlanta also won the overall rebounding battle 44-34, anchored by Angel Reese‘s 16-rebound, 8-offensive-rebound performance.
“We’re gonna have to be solid defensively, which at times yesterday we weren’t, so that’s gonna have to definitely change. And our shot selection’s gotta be a lot better,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
He pointed to ball movement and player movement as continuing emphases against teams that take away transition opportunities and force Dallas into the half-court.
“It’s a little bit of both because I think any of the really good teams are gonna take away what you wanna do in transition and force you to play in the half-court. I thought ball movement, player movement, the ball going from side to side, inside and out — at times I thought we just settled,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Like I said yesterday, you don’t want yesterday’s loss to affect the next game, and our group understands that.”
Asked whether the experience of playing Atlanta would benefit the Wings as the season progresses, Fernandez rejected the framing of the game as a moral victory.
“You can’t get into moral victories. The days for that are long gone. They’re probably gonna have three All-Stars in their group, but I think if you take away some of the defensive lapses and understand how every possession matters, it hurt us in that fourth quarter,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
The Wings entered the fourth quarter with a 59-58 lead before Allisha Gray opened the period with back-to-back 3-pointers and Atlanta closed the game on a series of late-clock perimeter shots.
Jose Fernandez Pushes Paige Bueckers to Increase Aggressiveness
Fernandez said he spoke with Bueckers on Wednesday about increasing her aggressiveness on isolations and in transition. Bueckers finished Tuesday’s loss with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes. She also surpassed 200 career assists in 38 career games, the fastest any Wings player has reached the mark.
“That’s what I talked to her about today. I think she’s gotta be a lot more aggressive, especially on isolations and in transition. Her shot attempts are increasing, but it’s about finding the right balance,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “She knows. I mean, she’s fine.”
Jose Fernandez Praises Second Unit, Discusses Bench Rotation Depth
The Wings’ bench outscored Atlanta’s reserves 16-5 on Tuesday, a stretch Fernandez singled out as a bright spot in the loss. Aziaha James and Awak Kuier each scored 6 points off the bench, while Maddy Siegrist and Alysha Clark added 2 points apiece.
Asked specifically about Siegrist’s 8-minute outing as Fernandez continues to test lineup combinations, the head coach pointed to the depth across the frontcourt rotation as a factor in the night-to-night decisions.
“I think it also speaks to our depth, right? With Alanna, Jess, Maddy, Awa, AC in that four and five spot. Different things happen during the course of a game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, where those are tough decisions to make,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Fernandez also credited the second unit’s stretch against Atlanta’s reserves, particularly in the second quarter, as evidence of the team’s overall makeup.
“Maddy’s been here, she’s a veteran. It just shows the makeup of our team. I thought Awak gave good minutes, but also, you take Shep and Alanna aside, that second group did a really good job against their second group in the second quarter,” Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal. “But that first group we talked about has to do a much better job on both ends, especially on the defensive end, to close out.”
Dallas Wings Host Minnesota Lynx Thursday on Prime
The Wings host the Lynx on Thursday at College Park Center with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT on Prime. The matchup provides familiarity for Smith and Shepard, both of whom arrived in Dallas this offseason from Minnesota.
Ogunbowale led the Wings with 20 points on Tuesday, her second straight 20-point game to open the season. She has now scored at least 12 points in 10 of her last 11 outings dating to July 22, 2025.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Dallas Wings vs. Atlanta Dream Postgame Interviews: Arike Ogunbowale, Awak Kuier & Jose Fernandez (May 12, 2026)
- Dallas Wings Fall 77-72 To Atlanta Dream In Home Opener As Rebounding And Cold Shooting Sink Comeback Bid
- Dallas Wings’ Azzi Fudd Out vs. Atlanta Dream ‘Out Of An Abundance Of Caution,’ Jose Fernandez Says
- ‘Championship Standard’: Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream Detail Matchup In Sold-Out Home Opener
- Atlanta Dream Shootaround Interviews: Allisha Gray, Angel Reese Detail Matchup Against Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
- Azzi Fudd Injury Update: Dallas Wings Rookie Participates In Shootaround Ahead Of Home Opener
- Dallas Wings Shootaround Interviews: Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard Detail Matchup Against Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream In Home Opener
- Jose Fernandez On Azzi Fudd’s Path To Starting Role: ‘When That Happens, I Think She’ll Be Ready’
- Dallas Wings Injury Report: Azzi Fudd Probable For Home Opener vs. Atlanta Dream
- Dallas Wings WATCH: Jose Fernandez, Paige Bueckers, Odyssey Sims Preview Home Opener vs. Atlanta Dream
- Bueckers, Ogunbowale, Sims Each Score 20 As Wings Edge Fever 107-104 In Season Opener
