Azzi Fudd reacts to 2026 WNBA draft: ‘Surreal’ to join Paige Bueckers at Dallas Wings
The WNBA draft has reunited Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers
Top 2026 WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd says she is “grateful” for the “surreal feeling” of hearing her name called in the New York ceremony confirming the UConn All-American would join girlfriend Paige Bueckers at the Dallas Wings.
Fudd was joined by her family – including mother Katie, who was drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs in 2001 – and UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley at The Shed, where the 23-year-old had been tipped for first draft.
“I’m not sure I have the words to describe that feeling and what it meant,” said Fudd. “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in.
“It’s nothing I could have imagined – the feeling, sitting there with my family, with Morgan, hearing your name called, getting to walk up there.
“To be able to share this moment with [my mother] and all of them is super special. The conversation has just been how proud they are and how they want me to soak it all in and enjoy it. That’s been my goal.”
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Azzi Fudd: ‘So much potential’ with Paige Bueckers at Wings
Point guard Bueckers was at UConn between 2020 and 2025, when the point guard was the overall first draft for the Wings.
The 24-year-old proceeded to make the All-Unrivaled First Team. “Paige is an incredible player, everybody knows that,” said Fudd.
“She is someone who makes playing basketball look easy. Just the experience of knowing how to play with her and play off her will only help.”
Fudd and Bueckers have both won multiple world titles with Team USA at youth level, with the Wings newcomer overcoming a string of serious knee injuries and a foot issue between 2019 and 2024.
“Our time at UConn was just full of injuries,” reflected Fudd. “It wasn’t until last year that we really got a chance to actually play with each other, and even then it wasn’t a full season.
“I feel like there’s so much left on the table, so much unknown and so much potential – not just with her, but with the entire Dallas Wings roster.
“I can’t wait to play with her again and every single one of them.”
Azzi Fudd stats: Career, 2025/26
A 5ft 11in shooting guard, Fudd won Most Outstanding Player as UConn became national champions in 2025 and finished her career with the top free throw percentage in team history, reaching 92.5%.
UConn suffered an upset in this season’s national semi-finals, their 54-game winning run ending with a defeat to South Carolina.
Here are some of Fudd’s key stats after Dallas made the first back-to-back number one picks from the same school since 2011.
| Games | Points average | Rebounds | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 115 | 14.7 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
| 2025/26 | 39 | 17.3 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
Full WNBA draft order 2026
Here’s how the first-round picks look. You can find the full draft on the WNBA’s site.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School/Country |
| 1 | Dallas Wings | Azzi Fudd | G | UConn |
| 2 | Minnesota Lynx (from CHI) | Olivia Miles | G | TCU |
| 3 | Seattle Storm (from LAS) | Awa Fam Thiam | C | Valencia Basket |
| 4 | Washington Mystics | Lauren Betts | C | UCLA |
| 5 | Chicago Sky (from CON) | Gabriela Jaquez | G | UCLA |
| 6 | Toronto Tempo | Kiki Rice | G | UCLA |
| 7 | Portland Fire | Iyana Martín Carrion | G | Baloncesto Avenida |
| 8 | Golden State Valkyries | Flau’jae Johnson | G | LSU |
| 9 | Washington Mystics (from SEA) | Angela Dugalic | F | UCLA |
| 10 | Indiana Fever | Raven Johnson | G | South Carolina |
| 11 | Washington Mystics (from NYL) | Cotie McMahon | F | Ole Miss |
| 12 | Connecticut Sun (from PHX) | Nell Angloma | F | Basket Lattes Montpellier |
| 13 | Atlanta Dream | Madina Okot | C | South Carolina |
| 14 | Seattle Storm (from LVA) | Taina Mair | G | Duke |
| 15 | Connecticut Sun (from MIN) | Gianna Kneepkens | G | UCLA |