DHJ Quick Take: Weaponizing the Second Unit
- The “Super Sub” Strategy: By moving Azzi Fudd to the bench, Fernandez is creating a nightmare for opposing second units. Pairing Fudd’s elite shooting with Aziaha James’ explosive preseason scoring (17.5 PPG) gives Dallas arguably the most dangerous bench backcourt in the WNBA.
- Ogunbowale’s Gravity: Arike’s return naturally reshapes the geometry of the floor. With Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers starting, Fudd becomes the ultimate “change of pace” weapon who can enter the game and exploit a defense that has already been shifted and exhausted by the starters.
- A “Green Light” from the Vet: Ogunbowale’s public backing—telling Fudd, “We’ll never get mad if she shoots”—is critical. For a rookie known to be unselfish, having the franchise’s all-time leading scorer demand she “shoot it” is the final piece of the confidence puzzle Fudd needs to translate her UConn efficiency to the pros.
- The Depth Factor: Fernandez is backing up his “we’re very, very deep” mantra. Starting Odyssey Sims or Maddy Siegrist alongside the stars provides veteran defensive stability, allowing the rookies and younger players to play with more freedom when they sub in.
- Rookie Perspective: Fudd’s observation that “everyone is in the same boat” regarding the new system is a savvy read. The lack of a “hierarchy of knowledge” in a reconstructed locker room allows her to compete on a level playing field with the veterans while she adjusts to the “little things” of the pro routine.
INDIANAPOLIS — Dallas Wings rookie guard Azzi Fudd will come off the bench in her WNBA regular-season debut Saturday at the Indiana Fever.
Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, started both of the Wings’ preseason games, including the April 30 win in this same building over Indiana. The shift to a reserve role for the regular-season opener comes with Arike Ogunbowale healthy and available after missing the preseason while wrapping up her season in China.
The starting lineup for the April 30 preseason game was Odyssey Sims, Paige Bueckers, Fudd, Maddy Siegrist, and Alanna Smith. Ogunbowale’s return for the opener reshapes the rotation Fernandez has prepared for through training camp.
The Wings’ free-agent class added Smith, Jessica Shepard, Sims, and Alysha Clark on top of six returning players, and the bench produced consistent scoring through preseason. Fernandez has repeatedly cited depth as the framework for how he plans to manage the rotation, and the lineup decision on Saturday reflects it.
“We’re very, very deep. Everybody being a star in their own, and making sure we just take efficient, great shots, and we share it,” Fernandez said earlier this week. “We’re deep in a lot of areas.”
Azzi Fudd on the Rookie Adjustment
Fudd is one of multiple newcomers establishing chemistry inside a roster that includes a first-year head coach, four veteran free-agent signings, and a No. 1 overall pick. She said that volume of turnover across the locker room has made her own rookie adjustment less isolating.
“I’m a rookie, everything is new, but at the same time, a lot of people on this team are new. I’m playing with different people for the first time. Everyone is learning coach’s coaching style, his plays. Everyone is learning something,” Fudd said. “So that makes it a little bit easier knowing we’re all in the same boat in a sense.”
The professional-level changes Fudd cited as the steeper jump were not the on-court differences she has been preparing for since the draft, but the day-to-day rhythm around them.
“It’s weird. It’s different, but at the same time, it’s not. There’s a lot of differences. I mean, your routine night before, day before, routine before you get to the arena, routine when you get to the arena, all the warm-ups, stuff, all the little things are different,” Fudd said.
Arike Ogunbowale’s Message to Azzi Fudd
Ogunbowale, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer who re-signed in April for her eighth season in Dallas, framed her advice for Fudd around shot confidence rather than role, drawing on the green light she has carried as a high-volume scorer through her career.
“Just play your game. She’s number one for a reason. She’s one of the best shooters I’ve seen,” Ogunbowale said. “And just go out there confident. We’ll never get mad if she shoots any shots, so shoot it.”
Azzi Fudd’s Background and the Dallas Wings’ Bench
Fudd averaged a career-high 17.7 points per game on .489/.455/.955 shooting splits as a senior at the University of Connecticut, helping the Huskies win the 2025 NCAA championship. The Wings selected her No. 1 overall in April after holding the top pick for the second consecutive year.
The Wings went 2-0 in preseason and led the league in points per game (98.0, tied with Indiana), field-goal percentage (.504), and assists per game (24.5). Fudd will join a Dallas bench unit that featured second-year guard Aziaha James, who led the team in preseason scoring at 17.5 points per game and finished a team-best plus-19 in the April 30 win in this same building.
Up Next
The Wings open the 2026 regular season against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT on ABC.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘I Felt A Lot Better’: How Azzi Fudd Used Dallas Wings Preseason To Get Comfortable Before WNBA Debut vs. Indiana Fever
- ‘Taking Ownership Of Who I Want To Be’: How Dallas Wings Star Paige Bueckers Prepared For Dominant Second Season
- How To Watch Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever: Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark Headline 2026 WNBA Season Opener
- WNBA MVP Odds: Dallas Wings Star Paige Bueckers Becomes Massive Liability For Sportsbooks
- Dallas Wings List Alanna Smith, Aziaha James Probable For Season Opener vs. Indiana Fever
- WNBA GM Survey Votes Paige Bueckers Top Player To Build Around Over Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson
- ‘The Sky’s The Limit’: Arike Ogunbowale Details Re-Signing With Dallas Wings, Eyes Championship
- Stephanie White: Dallas Wings Have ‘A Lot to Be Excited About’ After Pairing Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers
- Paige Bueckers Embraces Defensive ‘Standard’ For Dallas Wings After Unrivaled Carryover
- Paige Bueckers On Dallas Wings’ New Offensive System: ‘Never A Stagnant Moment’
- ‘It’s About Want To’: Paige Bueckers’ Vocal Leadership Is Setting The Dallas Wings’ Training Camp Tone
