Diana Taurasi has a straightforward answer for what she expects the Dallas Wings to do with the No. 1 overall pick on April 13. Take Azzi Fudd.
Taurasi shared her thoughts during an appearance on NBC Sports with Natalie Esquire and Terrika Foster-Brasby, pointing to Fudd’s fit alongside Paige Bueckers as the driving factor.
“Dallas is gonna have a tough decision to make, and it’s a decision you want when you have the number one pick, and you have all this talent coming out,” Taurasi said. “I think just from a bird’s eye view, you would say Azzi is the number one pick. The synergy that she has with Paige on the court — they play great together.”
Bueckers was drafted by Dallas last year and won Rookie of the Year in her first WNBA season. She and Fudd played together in the UConn backcourt, winning the national championship before Bueckers turned pro.
Fudd is still playing, and the numbers back Taurasi up. She is averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 assists, and shooting 45.4% from three this season — all career highs. In UConn’s second-round NCAA Tournament win over Syracuse on Monday, she tied her career high with 34 points and went 8-of-11 from three in a 98-45 win. The Huskies, on a 52-game winning streak, face North Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
“The way Azzi’s been playing — just dominant — she looks on the court on both ends right now,” Taurasi said. “I would say she’s probably the one pick.”
Taurasi also addressed what Fudd is dealing with as draft day gets closer.
“No matter what, whether you’re favored to be the number one pick or not, you’re always nervous,” Taurasi said. “There’s so much that happens in that two-week stretch from hopefully winning a national championship or making the Final Four to all of a sudden you’re a pro, and you’re at the draft.”
She isn’t concerned about Fudd navigating it.
“The beauty about Azzi, she has great people around her. She has great support,” Taurasi explained. “She has great friends that have gone through the draft, and she’s got it figured out.”
Taurasi played at UConn under Geno Auriemma, winning the national title in 2001-02. The Wings hold the first overall pick for the second straight year.
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