Whether or not Dallas Wings superstar Paige Bueckers and rookie guard Azzi Fudd are dating isn’t the most pressing issue facing the WNBA team right now.
As the Wings prepare to climb out of the league’s basement, what matters the most is how quickly Bueckers and Fudd can regain their UConn chemistry together on the court; if new coach Jose Fernandez can bring out the best in star guard Arike Ogunbowale after a down year for the latter; and if the team’s aggressive 2026 free agency spending spree will speed up its contention timeline or severely limit it cap-wise down the road.
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And, like most WNBA teams right now, whether it can match the soaring heights of a Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever or Atlanta Dream.
However, the biggest question circulating Thursday, April 16, had nothing to do with basketball, in part because human curiosity can’t ever avoid looking past the court. So, much focus will be given to Bueckers and Fudd’s off-court relationship.
They were dating, Bueckers said last year. Trying to pry more about their current status delves into hushed gossip. It really isn’t anyone’s business how life goes for the duo behind closed doors. Whether they’re dating is probably not high on the Wings’ list of concerns right now.
But, people are going to ask. The Wings’ press team rebuffed a relationship question about Bueckers and Fudd. It’s not uncommon for WNBA players to date while playing on the same team. The Wings had a couple last season with DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith, even if for a brief time. The Phoenix Mercury have an engaged couple in Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, who have played together for years. The New York Liberty rostered Natasha Cloud and Isabelle Harrison last year.
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Curiosity about Bueckers and Fudd is baked into the conversation about women’s sports, just as it is with anyone in the public eye. When they’re star athletes on the same team? That interest compounds, especially if there’s ever visible friction or a slump in play.
Fans owe Bueckers and Fudd a healthy level of respect for their privacy. The Wings owe it to Bueckers and Fudd to protect them, but also may eventually owe fans clarity if an off-court relationship ever impacts the team on the court.
Bueckers and Fudd will probably get asked more questions about their relationship beyond Thursday, whether it’s at training camp or down the road. Reporters asking empathic questions and the Wings giving them “no comment” is more than fine.
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But what we should be focused on is Fudd’s dominant streak at UConn, where she turned into one of the best offensive engines in the country, and how Bueckers will instantly fit in with her former backcourt mate. We can start wondering if the Wings missed out on center Awa Fam Thiam — the Storm earned an “A” from me on draft night for the selection — by picking Fudd. The Wings will benefit from Fudd’s 3-point abilities and her excellent off-ball game, and maybe the next step is eventually finding a truly elite post presence to amplify Bueckers’ game.
For the good of Bueckers, Fudd, the Wings and the general discourse about the WNBA, let’s keep the conversation to basketball first. The rest? Let’s continue to exercise empathy and professionalism.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd questions are fair, but focus on basketball
