NEW YORK — Rookies Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles will be entangled as the subject of debates for the entirety of their careers.
That’s what happens when this degree of parity exists in a draft class, specifically between the No. 1 and No. 2 picks. Throw in an established relationship between the Dallas Wings franchise player and Fudd and a historic rookie debut from Miles through the first 2 1/2 weeks of the season, and the dispute only intensifies.
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Fudd, out of UConn, joined her backcourt teammate Paige Bueckers in Dallas as the top pick in the 2026 draft. Miles, out of TCU, was selected second by the Minnesota Lynx, and — at least through the early stage of the season — appears as the Rookie of the Year front-runner.
If Fudd is so good, why is she coming off the bench?
How would Miles look in the Wings system?
Why did Dallas select Fudd first?
Those questions, justifiably, will follow Fudd and the Wings all season, especially if Miles continues on this trajectory.
But not Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. On one of the biggest WNBA stages, in a game that was earmarked for Sabrina Ionescu’s season debut with the New York Liberty, Fudd gave an answer without saying a word when she exploded for a career-high 24 points, shooting 6 of 12 from 3, for the 91-76 victory.
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“Now everyone knows why we took her No. 1,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “Right?”
Wrong.
Unfortunately for Fudd and the Wings, one performance won’t be enough to convince naysayers. Consistency is the only answer with the strength to silence. But what Fernandez and company all appeared sure of after Dallas’ win, capping a three-game trip, is that this game was Fudd’s launching pad.
“We knew she had this in her, and we knew it was only a matter of time,” Bueckers said. “It takes time as a rookie to get your legs under you, your feet going and just get some experience and reps at it.”
Bueckers is right. Most rookies inevitably face similar learning curves when confronted with the level of physicality and tiny margin for error at the professional level.
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Coming into Sunday’s game, Fudd was averaging just 8.4 points as a Wings reserve, a stark contrast from the previous four No. 1 picks, all of whom started in every game they were available as rookies.
Fernandez has opted for Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and Odyssey Sims in his starting backcourt through the first seven games. Fudd was also ruled out of the Wings home opener against the Atlanta Dream with a knee injury, but Fernandez couched it as a precautionary measure.
Though Fudd has navigated the natural ebbs of inexperience, Miles has made the league her playground, competing with an ease akin to a trusted veteran in a flow state.
Despite the absence of injured All-Star Napheesa Collier, the Lynx (6-2) are tied for second in the league standings with the Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever through six games. Miles is a considerable part of that, averaging 15 points, 5.5 assists and five rebounds per game. She is the fifth player in WNBA history to average those marks, joining Caitlin Clark, Candace Parker, Sue Bird and Ionescu. All were No. 1 picks.
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On May 14, the Wings hosted Miles and the Lynx. In the teams’ first meeting of the season, Miles finished with 15 points and six assists. Fudd had 8 points off the bench. The Lynx left Dallas with a 90-86 win.
Fudd said Friday she felt no added competition with Miles nor the need to prove herself as the No. 1 pick. “It’s not something I’ve thought about. Liv is doing an incredible job in Minnesota right now. Obviously, it’s fun to play against them,” Fudd said. “Looking forward to our next matchup, but just seeing her do her thing has been incredible.”
Fudd subbed in Sunday at the 5:34 mark in the first quarter and less than 15 seconds later cut to the rim for an easy layup. It set the tone for her breakout rookie performance.
She scored 17 of her points in the third quarter, tying Rhyne Howard (2022) and Seimone Augustus (2006) for the second most by a rookie in a quarter since the league transitioned to quarters in 2006. Former Atlanta Dream guard Shoni Schimmel holds the record with 20 points in the second quarter against the Phoenix Mercury in 2014.
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Asked whether Sunday’s performance will affect Fudd’s future in the starting rotation, Fernandez was noncommittal.
“I think we’re heading in that direction,” he said.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Minnesota Lynx, Dallas Wings, WNBA
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