UConn’s Azzi Fudd, left, and Paige Bueckers, center, watch during the first half of an NCAA women’s college basketball game against St. John’s, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II/Associated Press
Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies reacts with Paige Bueckers #5 during the second half against the USC Trojans in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Spokane Arena on March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Washington.
Steph Chambers/TNS
UConn guards Paige Bueckers (5) and Azzi Fudd (35) celebrate after teammate KK Arnold draws a foul in UConn’s 82-59 win over No. 1 South Carolina in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media
UConn guard Azzi Fudd, left and assistant coach Jamelle Elliott, right, help UConn guard Paige Bueckers up off the floor in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Fairleigh Dickinson, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Jessica Hill/Associated Press
Azzi Fudd’s professional career begins Monday night in New York.
The UConn women’s basketball star guard will hear her name called in the 2026 WNBA Draft and become the 51st Husky to be selected by the league. She’ll pack up her belongings in Storrs and move to the city of whichever team picks her to begin training camp for the upcoming WNBA season that begins Sunday, April 19.
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From this point on, Fudd will take on the labels of WNBA rookie and former Husky.
Fudd has spent the past five years at UConn not only showcasing her pro-ready talents but also proving what resiliency looks like at its finest. The Arlington, Va. native came back from an ACL and meniscus tear during her junior year and played the best basketball of her career in her final two seasons with the Huskies.
This year, she averaged a career-high in points (17.3), assists (3.1) and steals (2.5) per game. She also put up career-bests shooting clips with a 48.1% field goal percentage and a 44.7% 3-point percentage.
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Fudd’s shooting abilities alone make her a top WNBA prospect, while her defense and work ethic propel her to the top of the draft. She has been projected to go anywhere from the No. 1 overall pick to No. 4. All top four teams have different needs and connections for Fudd — including a potential reunion with former Huskies star Paige Bueckers.
Dallas holds the No. 1 pick for the second straight season, followed by Minnesota, where Fudd’s grandparents live, at No. 2. Seattle is No. 3 and Washington, Fudd’s home WNBA team, is No. 4.
The other top three projected draftees are UCLA center Lauren Betts, TCU point guard Olivia Miles and Spanish center Awa Fam. Ultimately, where Fudd lands in the draft and in the WNBA will come down to each team’s needs.
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Here’s a look at how Fudd would fit in:
Dallas Wings — A reunion with Bueckers
The Wings hired former USF coach Jose Fernandez in the offseason and look to relaunch their rebuilding era after a failed season last year, despite Bueckers’ successful rookie campaign. Fernandez is not only a close friend of Geno Auriemma, but is highly respected in the coaching world thanks to his ability to develop talent and his high-tempo, flowing offense. Fudd would fit in well with Fernandez’s style and has experience playing with Bueckers at UConn.
“That would be exciting,” Bueckers said last week in Phoenix when asked about Fudd potentially joining the Wings. “I don’t know what I can say or what the future holds, but obviously we’ve had a lot of games together under our belt. We won the national championship together, so I think there’s great success in that. But I guess time will tell.”
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The tandem of Bueckers and Fudd may just be the energy that Dallas needs to reinvent itself, re-energize its fan base and become a contender. However, the Wings don’t necessarily need another guard. On top of Bueckers, they also have Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly and likely Arike Ogunbowale. Dallas extended a core, super-max offer to Ogunbowale on Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, she had yet to accept the offer or negotiate a trade.
Minnesota Lynx — A familiar support
Fudd’s grandparents live in Minnesota. She grew up spending every summer at their lake house and attending the Minnesota State Fair. Tom and Karen Duffy are avid supporters of Fudd’s basketball career and have spent the past five years living part time in Coventry. Fudd would immediately compete for WNBA championships if drafted by Minnesota, as the Lynx have finished with the best record in the Western Conference in each of the last two seasons.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve knows what it takes to win (four WNBA titles in Minnesota) and understands the impact of drafting a Husky. Reeve, who is also President of Basketball Operations for the Lynx, has drafted Maya Moore (2011), Napheesa Collier (2019), Crystal Dangerfield (2020), Dorka Juhász (2023) and Aubrey Griffin (2025).
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This year, the Lynx desperately need a new ball handler/point guard and another shooting guard. While Fudd didn’t do much facilitating at UConn, she could direct an offense and would instantly make an impact as a go-to shooter alongside Collier.
Seattle Storm — New beginnings with early expectations
Like Dallas, the Seattle Storm underwent a coaching change in the offseason, hiring Sonia Raman as its new leader. Raman was a former assistant coach with the New York Liberty and in the NBA. This is her first head coaching gig at the pro level and she’s been tasked with re-sparking the Storm’s offense to get back to title contention.
Seattle, which last won it all in 2020, will likely lose top veterans Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike to free agency.
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As of Thursday, its roster consists of young stars Dominque Malonga (No. 2 in last year’s draft) and Jordan Horston, along with veterans Ezi Magbegor and Lexie Brown. Like with Minnesota, Fudd would immediately make an impact with the Storm and be responsible for becoming one of the team’s go-to scorers every night.
Seattle also boasts one of the league’s best practice facilities and dedicated ownership groups.
Washington Mystics — A hoops homecoming
Fudd grew up in Arlington, Virginia, which is about a 30-plus minute drive to the Mystics’ home at CareFirst Arena in D.C. Not only did she play high school playoff basketball on Washington’s home court, she also played two collegiate games there with UConn.
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If Fudd is drafted by the Mystics, she’d join a young roster that features Jacy Sheldon, Georgia Amoore, Sonia Citron, Lucy Olsen and Kiki Iriafen.
Fudd would compete with Citron for playing time at shooting guard. Citron earned All-Star and WNBA All-Rookie Team honors last year after averaging 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Fudd also has experience playing against both Sheldon and Olsen, and is close friends with Amoore. The former Husky would likely also have an immediate impact in Washington, but would share responsibilities with Citron.
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