No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd’s limited role continues to frustrate the Dallas Wings supporters. On Friday, their dissatisfaction with the team’s management and coaching only grew more as Fudd played 20 minutes off the bench in the Wings’ 86-69 loss to the Atlanta Dream. She was their best defensive player, tallying three blocks and a steal.
While Fudd didn’t have the best of offensive outings, when the Wings went scoreless for the first six minutes of the game, she ran off five straight upon her introduction. It all started with her first defensive possession as she stole the ball from Madina Okot.
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After an underwhelming start for the first five on the floor, this was an ideal opportunity for coach Jose Fernandez to offer Azzi Fudd lengthier stretches. However, after her first quarter burst, which poured some life into the listless Wings, Fernandez played Fudd for only five minutes in the second.
He stuck with Fudd’s rotation pattern despite her excellent defensive play. Fudd was guarding multiple positions. While her offense was wonky, it can be blamed on the staff’s questionable rotation pattern, which didn’t allow Fudd to find her rhythm.
Azzi Fudd finished the game with seven points, one rebound and four stocks, shooting 3 of 9, including 1 of 4 from 3-point range. After the game, Wings fans flooded general manager Curt Miller’s latest X post, which he tweeted while Dallas was getting outplayed.
“Free Azzi Fudd,” one fan said.
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“hey big dawg, you wanna trade Azzi to a team that wants her and uses her?” another added.
Why are we still using that starting 5?? ITS NOT WORKING….,” one fan wrote.
“yeah that starting 5 is no good, how about some change, like playing the first pick? how about telling the team to stop fouling? how about passing the ball?” one fan suggested.
“benching your no. 1 pick? how is this normal please please fix this you gotta do something,” one fan wrote.
“Curt if you’re serious about this franchise let’s have Paige, Azzi, Awak and Jess as permanent starters. The rotations are too demanding for the players especially for Paige. Please keep her at the one and let Sims come in as backup,” another said.
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Azzi Fudd records most steals and blocks off the bench in the WNBA amid loss to Dream
Azzi Fudd continues to progress in the right direction after a slow start to her WNBA career. The No. 1 pick recorded the most steals and blocks for a bench player in the 2026 season during the Wings’ blowout loss to the Dream.
Fudd had three blocks; one each on Angel Reese, Jordin Canada and Sika Kone. Her only steal was against Madina Okot. Fudd was regarded as one of the best two-way perimeter players in her draft class, so it wasn’t surprising for many to see.
However, this now turns the heat on the Wings’ coaching staff for limiting her minutes and role. The Wings can bench Odyssey Sims for Fudd and could have a more balanced lineup moving forward.
