Wings’ Azzi Fudd reveals Stephen Curry’s role in Project B decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Azzi Fudd’s decision to join the ambitious Project B league has numerous ramifications for the WNBA and its most recent No.1 draft pick.
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Fudd is joining Sophie Cunningham, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Mitchell, Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas in the nascent overseas league, which is set to begin play in January as an offseason alternative to the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league centered in Miami.
Fudd is the youngest player to join Project B, as Fortune first revealed on Friday. The billion-dollar league is sending a statement by recruiting Fudd, whose partner and Dallas Wings teammate Paige Bueckers is one of the stars of Unrivaled.
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Fudd told Fortune’s Emma Hinchcliffe that playing overseas was appealing to her, and she credited the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry with fostering that desire at a basketball camp last summer.
Fudd joined Curry for a basketball camp in Chongqing, China last year, and she was taken aback by the reception she received.
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Fudd spoke of how meaningful it was to receive photos to sign, as well as copies of Slam magazine and even some Labubus from adoring fans.
“People who are fans of me all around the world—I’m so far from home, in a country I’ve never been to, and people cheer for me, give me gifts, and welcome me with open arms—it was such an unreal experience,” Fudd said. “It opened my eyes to just how much more is out there and how basketball can open the doors to so much.”
Fudd is unlikely to be the last WNBA star to be enticed by such an opportunity to discover the world — and she is proof that younger and younger players are going to chase the chance Project B gives them.
