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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)<\/p>\n
Frank Franklin II\/Associated Press<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Steph Chambers\/TNS<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tyler Sizemore\/Hearst Connecticut Media<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
Jessica Hill\/Associated Press<\/p>\n
Azzi Fudd\u2019s<\/a> professional career begins Monday night in New York.<\/p>\n The UConn women\u2019s basketball <\/a>star guard will hear her name called in the 2026 WNBA Draft and become the 51st Husky to be selected by the league. She\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n From this point on,\u00a0Fudd will take on the labels of WNBA rookie and former Husky.<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0Va. 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make CT Insider a preferred source on Google to see more of our journalism when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Fudd\u2019s 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 \u2014 including a potential reunion with former Huskies star Paige Bueckers.<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas holds the No. 1 pick for the second straight season, followed by Minnesota, where\u00a0Fudd\u2019s grandparents live, at No. 2. Seattle is No. 3 and Washington,\u00a0Fudd\u2019s home WNBA team, is No. 4.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at how Fudd would fit in:<\/p>\n Dallas Wings \u2014 A reunion with Bueckers<\/p>\n 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\u2019 successful rookie campaign. Fernandez is not only a close friend of Geno Auriemma,<\/a> but is highly respected in the coaching world thanks to his ability to develop talent and his high-tempo, flowing offense.\u00a0Fudd would fit in well with Fernandez\u2019s style and has experience playing with Bueckers at UConn.<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be exciting,\u201d\u00a0Bueckers said last week in Phoenix when asked about\u00a0Fudd potentially joining the Wings. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Minnesota Lynx \u2014 A familiar support<\/p>\n<\/p>\n