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On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings announced that this year’s No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd will be out for the remainder of the season and will miss the 2026 WNBA playoffs to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on her right knee. Fudd had been averaging 13.1 points, 1.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range. Losing that combination of perimeter shooting, imposing defense, and off-ball movement is a significant blow to a Dallas team currently sitting eighth and fighting to hold on to its postseason berth.
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The Wings can’t truly replace Fudd. They can, however, minimize the impact of her absence by leaning heavily on a player who has already demonstrated that she can thrive when the stakes are highest: Odyssey Sims.
Elevating Odyssey Sims is the Wings’ best option
The best response the Wings could have is to increase Sims’ responsibilities rather than attempt to find a direct substitute for Fudd. Sims can’t exactly replicate Fudd’s shooting, but she can provide something Dallas desperately needs heading into the postseason: Reliable playoff-caliber ballhandling, elite playmaking, toughness, and valuable veteran experience.
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Sims’ 2025 postseason run with the Indiana Fever is particularly important because it proves she has the skills to step into a high-pressure playoff situation and be successful in a new role. She joined Indiana late in the regular season after the team lost several guards to injuries, meaning she entered another team’s system under enormous pressure with virtually no adjustment period. She didn’t merely fill minutes — Sims became a major contributor during the Fever‘s surprising run to the semifinals.
That experience should matter enormously to Dallas’ coaching staff. In the opening round against Atlanta, Sims helped the sixth-seeded Fever survive a three-game series as the underdog and advance to the semifinals. She became even more prominent against the Las Vegas Aces, scoring 17 points in Indiana’s Game 1 victory and 18 points in Game 2. In the contentious Game 5, Sims erupted for 27 points and continued to deliver in the game’s biggest moments. She tied the contest at the free-throw line late in regulation and then answered an Aces basket with a driving layup to tie the game again with just seconds remaining.
Even though the Fever eventually lost that series, Sims showed the exact kind of experience the Wings can draw upon now. Sims has already played meaningful playoff minutes against high-caliber competition, dealt with how injuries can reshape the roster around her, and played her best ball when an entire season was on the line. She knows what playoff pressure feels like, and she knows that postseason games often require veterans to create something when the original game plan breaks down.
The Wings would benefit from giving Sims more on-ball responsibility while allowing their remaining stars in Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to stay the team’s primary scoring threats. Sims can initiate offense, attack mismatches and keep the ball moving, reducing the need for Bueckers or Ogunbowale to take on the brunt of every possession.
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Sims has proven that she does not need months to become comfortable in a new role. She already helped turn Indiana’s depleted lineup and emergency roster situation into a deep playoff run. After spending this entire season in Dallas adapting to Bueckers, Ogunbowale, and the Wings’ system, sliding into the gap left by Fudd’s injury should be a walk in the park for Sims.
Fudd’s injury may alter Dallas’ ceiling, but it does not eliminate its playoff chances. The best move is to trust the veteran who has already survived this exact kind of postseason chaos. Sims’ 2025 Fever experience gives the Wings something more valuable than a temporary replacement — they get a proven big-game guard who understands how to elevate her play when the season is on the line.
Related: Azzi Fudd releases statement after brutal end to rookie season
Related: Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd open up about their immediate spark
