DHJ Quick Take: Azzi Fudd Prepares For WNBA Preseason Debut
- Backcourt Firepower: The pairing of Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers gives the Dallas Wings an unprecedented back-to-back No. 1 overall pick backcourt. With Bueckers coming off a reigning Rookie of the Year campaign and Fudd shooting a career-high 45.5% from deep at UConn, their offensive chemistry is a mechanical necessity for Jose Fernandez‘s pace-and-spacing system.
- National Spotlight: Making a debut at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Indiana Fever puts Fudd in the eye of the national storm immediately. Even with a “thinned-down” roster, the Wings‘ decision to let the two former Huskies log meaningful minutes suggests they are looking to solidify their identity as a perimeter-dominant powerhouse.
- UConn Pedigree: Azzi Fudd‘s integration into the WNBA alongside Bueckers allows Dallas to bypass the typical “rookie adjustment” phase, thanks to their established collegiate chemistry.
INDIANAPOLIS — Azzi Fudd put in her pregame work Thursday morning at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, getting up shots at the Dallas Wings‘ gameday shootaround just hours before her WNBA preseason debut against the Indiana Fever.
Azzi Fudd’s First Look in a Dallas Wings Uniform
Selected first overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft out of Connecticut, Fudd is set to play her first game in a Dallas uniform Thursday night. The sharpshooting guard arrives in the WNBA after a senior season at UConn that produced career highs across the board, including 17.7 points per game on 48.9% from the floor, 45.5% on 3-pointers, and 95.5% on free throws, while leading the Huskies to their 25th Final Four.
Her résumé from her final college season included Associated Press, USBWA, and Wooden Award All-America honors, BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition, an All-BIG EAST First Team selection, and an NCAA Fort Worth Regional All-Region Team nod.
Pairing With Paige Bueckers
Fudd joins a Dallas backcourt that already features reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, giving the Wings consecutive No. 1 overall picks pairing on the perimeter. Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game during her rookie year and posted the league’s best efficiency rating among guards, shooting 47.7% from the floor, 33.1% from beyond the arc, and 88.8% from the free throw line.
The two former UConn teammates reunite in a Dallas uniform tonight, with a thinned-down roster making an early window for both to log meaningful preseason minutes.
Tip-Off Details
The Wings face the Indiana Fever at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game airs nationally on ION and streams on WNBA League Pass.
Up Next
Dallas closes its preseason slate Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center in Austin before opening the regular season May 9 in Indianapolis.
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