TL;DR
- Dallas Wings select Azzi Fudd first overall
- Fudd averages 17.3 points in final season
- Romantic relationship with Paige Bueckers
- Expansion draft and record contracts this year
- 2026 WNBA season starts May 8
In a move that has left fans buzzing, the Dallas Wings have chosen Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. After two years of the top pick being a no-brainer, this year’s selection was anyone’s guess until the very moment the announcement dropped. Fudd, the standout guard from UConn, has been a force on the court, averaging an impressive 17.3 points per game during her final collegiate season. However, her performance in the tournament raised eyebrows, as she struggled to find her rhythm, averaging just 10.3 points in her last three games, including a disappointing eight points in a season-ending loss to South Carolina in the Final Four.
But let’s not forget the juicy details that come with this pick. Fudd isn’t just a basketball star; she’s also in a romantic relationship with fellow player Paige Bueckers, who was the top pick last year. Talk about a power couple! Their relationship, which went public in July 2025, adds an exciting twist to the narrative, making Fudd’s journey in the WNBA all the more intriguing.
While Fudd may have been the spotlight of the draft, she wasn’t the only contender. TCU guard Olivia Miles and Spanish center Awa Fam were also in the mix for the top spot. Miles, who averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game for the Horned Frogs, brings a different skill set to the table. She’s not quite the sharpshooter that Fudd is, but her ability to drive to the basket and create plays makes her a valuable asset for any team. Meanwhile, Fam, at just 19 years old, is seen as a high-ceiling prospect with the potential to become a star in her own right.
The Wings, who finished last season with a dismal 10-34 record, had the first pick in the draft after a year filled with ups and downs, including a contentious labor negotiation that finally wrapped up in March. With the new collective bargaining agreement in place, Fudd is set to earn a whopping $500,000 as a rookie—seven times more than what last year’s top pick, Bueckers, earned. This financial leap reflects the growing recognition and investment in women’s sports.
As the WNBA prepares to kick off its 30th season on May 8, all eyes will be on Fudd and her new team. Will she live up to the hype? Can she and Bueckers take the Wings to new heights? With the excitement of the draft behind us, fans are ready for a thrilling season ahead.
https://www.youtube.com/nbcnews