Azzi Fudd Helps Dallas Wings’ 2026 Draft Class Earn Excessive Marks

[ad_1] The Dallas Wings had the No. 1 total choose in back-to-back years, and each occasions they took a participant from the UConn Huskies.

Final yr, Dallas chosen Paige Bueckers on the high of the draft — and she or he put forth a Rookie of the 12 months-winning season.

The Wings are hoping Azzi Fudd replicates her success subsequent season after selecting the previous UConn guard first total earlier this week. Dallas solely had one different choose within the draft, which it used on Tennessee energy ahead Zee Spearman (No. 31 total).

Although the Wings left the draft with simply two picks, it was sufficient to earn a excessive draft grade ESPN’s Michael Voepel, who gave Dallas an A grade. The staff was one in all three to earn an A grade, whereas the Washington Mystics acquired an A+, the very best of any staff.

<img id="11842733" alt="Dallas Wings first-round pick Azzi Fudd" caption="Azzi Fudd of UConn arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)" captionoverride="Azzi Fudd of UConn arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="4000" height="2558" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271207038.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> “As soon as the Wings' free company strikes have been made, it turned clear that they'd choose Fudd as a robust complement to Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers within the backcourt,” Voepel wrote. “The Wings added veteran posts Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard and retained Ogunbowale. All these strikes create a staff that ought to be stronger defensively and onerous to protect with so many high-skilled perimeter threats.

“Spearman has dimension and shot-blocking potential, however she did not end pictures throughout her senior season the best way she had earlier in her profession. In the end, this grade is predicated solely on including Fudd, whose 3-point taking pictures might assist the Wings get again to the playoffs.”

With Fudd within the fold, the Wings roster seems to be way more aggressive this yr than it was a season in the past.

Fudd and Bueckers have been teammates at UConn for years (they received a nationwide championship in 2025), and their chemistry ought to assist Fudd’s transition to the professional recreation.