Azzi Fudd is already impressing her Dallas Wings teammates and coaches during WNBA training camp.
The former UConn All-American had her introductory press conference on April 16 and has hit the ground running. She officially has new threads and is settling into training camp. During her first practice, first-year Wings head coach Jose Fernandez reportedly had to yell at Fudd to “shoot the damn ball” instead of passing up open looks.
Advertisement
As the days have passed, Fudd appears to have gotten more comfortable with her role and expectations.
“She’s been great four days in,” Fernandez said this week. “Coachable. Does the right things. Invest in her body. Takes care of her body. She’s in here early. She’s really embraced the playbook. I’m looking forward to coaching her.”
Forward Maddy Seigrist praised the business-like approach Fudd brought with her to the WNBA. Seigrist believes it stems from her UConn background and the Huskies’ standards.
“Playing with Paige (Bueckers) last year, I got to see that. I played against Azzi (Fudd), but I hadn’t played with her until the last few days, which has been great,” Seigrist said. “She’s been a great addition. Anyone who can shoot the ball that efficiently has a spot in this league.”
The praise for Fudd didn’t stop there. She’s making connections on and off the court, including starring in a heartfelt yet funny video for guard Arike Ogunbowale − who is playing overseas commitments − and a bond over food with guard Alysha Clark.
Advertisement
“On the court, it’s just watching her IQ. Yes, everyone knows she’s an amazing shooter, but I think something that’s underrated is her off-ball movement,” Clark said.
“Off the court, (I’m) learning that she’s a foodie. We started kind of already making plans. I’m like, ‘OK, when you’re doing this, I wanna come. Let’s go find these types of restaurants.’ And I told her when we travel on the road, I have a list of restaurants in every city that I like to go to … Having a fellow foodie on the team is definitely exciting.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Azzi Fudd already earning rave reviews at first WNBA training camp
