HARTFORD — Azzi Fudd stood in front of the visiting team’s locker room entrance at PeoplesBank Arena and fielded questions from the Connecticut media during her return to the state last week. She couldn’t help but smile talking about being back in Hartford and in front of UConn fans.
Her former UConn women’s basketball teammate Jana El Alfy had braided Fudd’s hair in her classic college game day style for game against the Connecticut Sun. The downtown Hartford crowd welcomed Fudd back with loud cheers throughout the game as hundreds of fans dressed for the occasion with No. 35 T-shirts and jerseys.
It was a celebration of Fudd and UConn basketball.
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About halfway through her rookie year in the WNBA, Fudd has helped the Dallas Wings get back to being playoff contenders as she reunited with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers. She has lit up games with her signature 3-point shot, just as she did over her UConn career.
But the shooting that made Fudd as college star isn’t her only impact on the Wings, nor her biggest. From her quick footwork to learning how to navigate the league’s physicality, Fudd’s defense has proven that she can evolve her game to this new, professional level and thrive.
“She usually guards the other team’s best offensive player,” Dallas coach Jose Fernandez said. “The way that she anticipates and gets her hands on the ball; She’s active, and she walls up, and she gets blocks. I think she does a lot of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.”
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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – JULY 02: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings interacts with fans following a WNBA basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on July 02, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
The Dallas Wings needed an outside presence heading into the 2026 season. An effective shooting guard to spread out the offense and add depth to its backcourt. In 2025, the Wings finished second to last in the WNBA with a 30.4 3-point field goal percentage and third to last with just 6.6 made 3’s per game.
Dallas drafted Fudd No. 1 overall in April because she was one of the, if not the, best perimeter shooters in the Class of 2026. Fudd finished her collegiate career within the top 10 in UConn’s lists of career 3-pointers made (No. 5 with 292), career 3-point percentage (No. 7 with 42.2%) and single-season 3-pointers made (No. 4 with a nation-best 117 in 2025-26).
To no surprise, in her first 20 games for Dallas, she’s helped the franchise increase its 3-point production. Fudd is second on the team with 1.9 triples per game and fourth with a 38.4 3-point percentage. Twice she’s drilled five or more 3-pointers in a single game, including six against New York in Brooklyn on May 24, which set the Wings’ rookie record for single-game 3-pointers and a WNBA rookie record for most 3-pointers in a single quarter (5). Heading into its 22nd game of the season, Dallas is averaging 8.2 3-pointers per game and a 33.5 clip from deep.
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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – JULY 02: Paige Bueckers #5 and Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings play against the Connecticut Sun during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at PeoplesBank Arena on July 02, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
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However, what’s even more impressive is Fudd’s defense.
The 5-foot-11 guard was one of UConn’s best defenders during her time in Storrs, yet it’s an aspect of her game that often got overshadowed by her clutch, automatic shooting.
Fudd is not only a smart defender but comfortable taking risks and confident in her timing around the basket — somehow finding the hops big enough to block shots against bigger opponents.
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Since beginning her professional career, Fudd’s leaned more into her defense, especially when her shot isn’t falling. She’s learned how to space the floor while helping teammates with coverage and how to study opponents’ tendencies.
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – JULY 02: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings warms up before a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun at PeoplesBank Arena on July 02, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
“I think defense is effort, and also I think it’s such an easy way to be able to have defense lead into offense as well,” said Fudd. “So, I feel like this is something I can control. I can’t control everything on the floor, but my effort that I give out there is one that hopefully people always see.”
Fudd is the league leader for blocks by guards with 1.0 per game. She’s also fourth in the league and leads Dallas with 1.8 steals per game. On Sunday against Toronto, Fudd finished with three steals and one block as she reached 20 career blocks faster than any guard in league history, according to Realapp.com. Fudd had a season-best five steals against Golden State on June 17 and had her season-best four blocks against Chicago on June 20.
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“Defensively, I think that’s the most surprising thing for me,” said Bueckers on Fudd’s adjustment to the W. “She’s always had really great hands; like, she’s very handsy, she gets deflections, she gets steals, she gets blocks, and she’s really physical on that end of the floor.”
Bueckers, last year’s Rookie of the Year, has started her sophomore season averaging career-highs in points (20.3) and assists (6.1) per game, and a career-high 52.5 field goal percentage. The former Husky star has recorded 20-plus points on 50% or better in each of the last five games, tying Katie Smith (2003) for the longest such streak by a guard in WNBA history, according to ESPN.
Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers (5) shakes hands with teammate Azzi Fudd (35) during their WNBA game at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn., Thursday July 2, 2026.
Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media
“Nothing about this is easy. Every single night is hard,” said Bueckers of how she’s approaching year two. “You got to approach it the same way, be consistent in your discipline and your habits, and how you approach the game, how you approach every single night, how you approach your recovery. This is the toughest league to play in. It’s the best women in the world competing for a championship on any given night. So, I’ve just really enjoyed it, embraced it.”
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Fudd’s defensive impact combined with Bueckers’ playmaking has created a lethal duo for the Wings, who are 13-8 and currently among the top four teams in league standings after finishing 10-34 last season. Not only do their individual talents complement each other on the court, but their chemistry from playing together, both as high schoolers with Team USA and in college, fuels their cohesiveness on the professional stage.
The two overlapped at UConn for four years, yet were never fully healthy at the same time for long stretches.
“It’s been really good. It’s been great, honestly better than old times since we’re both healthy,” said Fudd of playing with Bueckers again. “It’s been fun. It’s almost like we picked up right where we left off.”
Added their former UConn teammate and Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa: “Playing against Paige last year was one thing, but also seeing Azzi in this position now, and them two together, kind of being able to feed off each other, help each other, support each other, is really fun.”
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Former UConn star and current Dallas Wings player Azzi Fudd (35) during their WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn., Thursday July 2, 2026.
Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media
Despite being two of the youngest players on Dallas’ roster, the two former Huskies have helped create a competitive, yet humble and kind locker room environment.
“I think the way that they handle themselves and treat other people is just a testimony to who they are as people,” said Dallas forward Alanna Smith. “They don’t see themselves as better than or higher than, which I think is amazing, just because they have so much magnitude, especially in a place like (Hartford), where it felt like a home game.
“But I think they’re two of the most deserving people of that type of fan base as well. They are not only talented, but great humans, and I feel very privileged to be able to play on a team with them and get to know them as people too.”
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Even former Big East foe Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist has become a good friend as Fudd and Siegrist are among the Wings’ book club members.
“It’s great, much better, for sure,” said Siegrist of teaming up with the former Huskies. “… They’re great players, so just be able to play with them is fun. … I think, you know, hatred ran deep in Villanova, so I definitely was like (hesitant) but then once you get to know them … they’re just great people as well.”