Azzi Fudd, alongside WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2026 WNBA Draft. (Photo: Dallas Wings)
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings entered the 2026 WNBA Draft with clarity. By the time they selected Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick Monday night, that clarity had turned into conviction.
For a franchise that spent the offseason reshaping its roster through free agency, Fudd was not just the top player on the board. She was the player who made everything else make sense.
“Azzi is the right fit with this group,” Wings general manager Curt Miller said. “Paige and Arike have the ball, and Azzi fits because she’s so good off the ball. We thought that was really a great combination.”
Fudd joins a Dallas backcourt anchored by Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale, forming a trio that blends scoring, spacing and versatility. While all three are capable of taking over games, it is how their skill sets complement one another that stands out most.
“She’s unselfish and does all the little things in what she’s about,” Miller said. “We’re excited about the pieces. It’s going to take a little bit of time for Jose (Fernandez, head coach) to work his magic and to gel, but truly excited about how Azzi fits as we put this together.”
For Fudd, the moment of hearing her name called was still difficult to put into words.
“I’m not really sure I have words to describe that feeling,” she said. “It’s such a surreal feeling. I’m so grateful.”
Surrounded by family on draft night, Fudd described an experience years in the making finally becoming real.
“You would have thought my whole family was getting drafted,” she said. “They’re so proud of me.”
That support system has been a constant throughout her journey, one that now carries into the next level. As a second-generation draftee, Fudd spoke about the significance of sharing the moment with her mother and family.
“To be able to share this moment with her, with all of them, is super special,” she said.
Dallas’ decision to draft Fudd was rooted not only in her talent, but in how her game fits alongside the team’s existing stars. At UConn, she built a reputation as one of the most efficient perimeter players in the country, thriving with her movement, shooting and ability to read defenses.
Those traits translate directly to a Wings system that is expected to emphasize spacing and ball movement.
“I’m a team-mentality, ‘we’ over ‘me’ kind of player,” Fudd said. “I’m going to do what the team needs.”
That approach is particularly valuable on a roster where Bueckers and Ogunbowale will command defensive attention. Fudd’s ability to operate without the ball allows Dallas to maximize its offensive flow without sacrificing efficiency.
“I know how to play with great players,” she said. “I know how to space the floor. I know how to move without the ball.”
Her familiarity with Bueckers, last year’s number one overall pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year, adds another layer of intrigue. The two shared time together at UConn, though injuries limited their opportunities to fully develop on-court chemistry.
“I feel like there’s still so much left on the table,” Fudd said. “So much potential.”
The Wings’ offseason moves were designed to complement that potential. Dallas added veterans Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith in free agency, prioritizing size, rebounding and defensive presence in the frontcourt.
Those additions, combined with the existing core, create a roster built for balance.
Veteran forward Alanna Smith joins the Dallas Wings to provide defensive versatility and interior grit for the 2026 campaign with new draft pick Azzi Fudd. (Photo: Dayna Cass | The Podium Finish)
“When you look at this roster and you look at Paige, Arike and Azzi, Aziaha (James) and Maddy (Siegrist) and the front line, we’re tough to guard with Paige and Arike and Azzi on the floor,” Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said. “Now you add Jess and Alanna and you involve them in pick-and-roll situations with Paige, it’s going to open up a lot of things for Arike and Azzi out on the perimeter.”
The emphasis on pick-and-roll actions highlights how Dallas plans to generate offense. With Shepard and Smith setting screens and providing interior presence, the Wings can create space for their guards to operate on the perimeter.
It is a structure designed to put pressure on opposing defenses at multiple levels.
“The same way probably some people are concerned on how we’re going to play defensively, people are going to have to guard us, as well,” Fernandez said.
While the offensive potential is clear, the Wings are equally focused on building a complete team. The addition of length and physicality in the frontcourt addresses previous gaps, allowing Dallas to compete more effectively on both ends of the floor.
Fudd understands the adjustment ahead. Transitioning from college to the WNBA presents new challenges, from increased physicality to a faster pace of play.
“I know change is going to hit me like a truck,” she said. “Things are going to be hard and I’m going to have to learn and adjust.”
Her mindset entering that transition is grounded in growth and perspective. Over the past year, Fudd has leaned on her faith as a source of strength.
“Being able to be rooted in Christ and have that as my foundation, I’ve seen a tremendous change in myself,” she said. “Just a sense of peace.”
That perspective could prove valuable as she steps into a high-expectation environment. With a roster capable of competing, the Wings are no longer focused solely on development.
“I was brought here to win,” Fernandez said.
For Dallas, the shift is intentional. After navigating a demanding offseason that included significant roster turnover and extensive evaluation, the organization believes it has assembled a group capable of contending.
Fudd’s arrival is central to that belief.
Her role will not be defined by volume alone, but by impact. Surrounded by established talent, she is positioned to contribute immediately while continuing to develop her game.
“I’m just excited to go in and learn,” she said.
The moment also carries broader significance. Fudd becomes the first player from the Washington, D.C., area to be selected No. 1 in the WNBA Draft, adding to a list of accomplishments that includes a national championship and multiple international gold medals.
Azzi Fudd (No. 35) looks forward to making the leap from her UConn Huskies colors to Dallas Wings navy blue, lime green and white. (Photo: UConn Athletics)
“DMV (Washington D.C./Maryland/Virginia) is who I am, where I’m from,” she said. “It’s incredible.”
As training camp approaches, the focus for Dallas will shift from construction to execution. Building chemistry, establishing roles and refining systems will determine how quickly the Wings can translate potential into results.
But the vision is already clear.
With Fudd joining Bueckers, Ogunbowale, Shepard and Smith, the Wings have assembled a roster designed to compete now while maintaining long-term flexibility.
For a team that has spent months building toward this moment, the final piece is now in place.
And for Fudd, the opportunity ahead reflects both the journey that brought her here and the expectations that come with it.
“It’s such a surreal feeling,” she said. “I’m so grateful.”
