The WNBA confirmed it will not fine Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd for questioning the league’s officiating after the preseason, with the No. 1 pick saying she was “confused” about fouls
Azzi Fudd criticized the WNBA officiating after a preseason game(Image: Getty)
Azzi Fudd will not be fined for publicly questioning WNBA officiating during the preseason, giving the No. 1 overall pick a pass on comments that might typically draw league punishment and immediately placing officiating at the center of the conversation heading into the 2026 season.
The remarks came after Sunday’s preseason game in Austin, Texas, where Fudd and her Dallas Wings teammates defeated the Las Vegas Aces 101-84.
Asked in the post-game press conference how she was adjusting to the physicality of professional basketball, the rookie UConn product gave an answer that was disarmingly direct. It comes after Bueckers joined Angel Reese and A’Ja Wilson at the 2026 Met Gala after addressing her relationship with Fudd.
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“Honestly, I’m more confused,” Fudd said. “I thought you could be physical in the W and anytime you touch someone, it’s a foul. So I’m not really sure whether to be physical, whether to — I don’t know. I’m still figuring that out.”
The comment drew immediate attention, partly because criticism of officiating in professional sports leagues typically invites financial penalties, and partly because it came from the most high-profile rookie in the WNBA Draft class.
Her teammate Jessica Shepard joked at the time that Fudd was still figuring out press conferences too, because she “may get hit” with a fine. The league, however, reviewed the comments and decided they did not cross the threshold for disciplinary action.
Azzi Fudd is the frontrunner to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year(Image: Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)
The decision arrives as the WNBA has been actively wrestling with officiating concerns for some time. Ahead of last season’s WNBA Finals, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced she would establish a multi-stakeholder task force to evaluate officiating during the offseason.
Multiple coaches confirmed this week that meetings took place, though the specifics of what was discussed and who was involved remain unclear.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, who has been vocal about wanting improvement, offered a calibrated assessment of where things stand. “Talking about it and making changes are two different things,” she said. “Do I hope that there’s improvement? Of course. But just like athletes and just like coaches, it takes time and it takes experience and it takes commitment to being consistent with it.”
Bueckers poses with Fudd and her new jersey at the WNBA Draft(Image: 2026 NBAE)
She was direct about what she hopes to see in the early weeks of the season. “I hope that we’re going to see a lot of whistles early and that that’s going to continue because players will adjust. We just need it to be consistent.”
Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko said he was part of meetings with senior officials and was told that calls were going to be tight during the preseason, which he believes has been borne out. “I think there’s been a lot of fouls called in the preseason so far,” Smesko said. “If they continue with that, our players are going to have to adjust to the way the game is called.”
For Fudd, the no-fine decision allows her to move forward without distraction ahead of Dallas’s regular season opener. Her preseason has been mixed, as she struggled in the opening game against the Indiana Fever, going 2-of-7 from the field with three fouls, but she looked considerably more settled against the Aces, finishing 4-of-10 from the field.
“I definitely felt a lot more comfortable out there tonight than I did the other night,” she said after the Aces game. “I think each game is going to get a little bit better.”