Wings’ Azzi Fudd Shares Paige Bueckers Admission

The Dallas Wings have had the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft in each of the past two seasons. In 2025, Dallas selected Paige Bueckers out of UConn. A season later, the Wings selected Bueckers’ former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd. It was uncertain if Fudd would be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, but the Wings ultimately made the move to select her. Dallas is currently at training camp and preparing for the season, and Fudd made a Bueckers admission while speaking to reporters on Sunday, via The Wings Bulletin.

“I think that’s something special about Paige is that her mindset is phenomenal,” Fudd said. “The way she goes about things, she always takes it as a challenge, as an opportunity to grow. So last year… She’s not used to losing, but how can she take those losses and continue to grow, continue to be a great leader, make everyone around her better.”

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The Wings finished with a 10-34 record a season ago, which was tied with the Chicago Sky for the worst record in the WNBA. Bueckers had won at UConn, so making the adjustment to the WNBA while playing for a losing team was surely a challenge. Fudd believes Bueckers took the opportunity as a way to grow and improve as a leader.

Even as a rookie, many of Bueckers’ teammates were impressed by her leadership. She will likely feel even more comfortable as a leader heading into the 2026 season.

Bueckers, Fudd Looking to Help Wings Turn Things Around

Losing is never ideal. However, the Wings’ struggles in recent years led to them landing the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft Lottery in back-to-back seasons. Dallas has since drafted Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd as a result. Adding Fudd and Bueckers to their Arike Ogunbowale-led team has Dallas sitting in a good position heading into 2026.

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