The Dallas Wings took a risk when they chose Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in this season’s WNBA Draft.
In choosing the UConn legend over TCU standout Olivia Miles and UCLA big Lauren Betts, Dallas was hoping to recreate the magic Fudd and Paige Bueckers had, when they did share the court together, in Storrs.
The worst-case scenario was that either former Husky wouldn’t be able to stay healthy.
Unfortunately, that’s what’s happened in Fudd’s rookie season in the WNBA.
The team announced last week that Fudd would undergo an arthroscopic procedure on her right knee, to address what it described as “ongoing soreness.” She will miss the rest of the season.
Fudd tore her ACL and meniscus in the same knee while at UConn in 2023, and tore the same ACL and MCL in 2019.
She hadn’t played since Aug. 5, and was averaging 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals this season.
“I know exactly what comes next: rehab, put in the work, come back ready and better than before,” Fudd wrote on her Instagram story. “Grateful for my family, my circle, and the Wings organization for the support. Thank you for all the messages today. They mean a lot to me.”
An inured Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, right, and guard Paige Bueckers before the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Dallas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Paige and Azzi experiment had been working well in Fudd’s rookie season before she was shut down– the Wings were 19-11 with her in the lineup, and are just 3-5 without her.
It’s still been a successful season for Dallas, which has already improved its record from 10-34 last season to 22-16 this year. The Wings need just one win in their final six games to clinch the WNBA’s final playoff spot, and their first postseason appearance since 2023.
It’s more than a bummer for Huskies fans to see Fudd go down with a season-ending injury, but it’s also been uplifting to watch Bueckers live out her potential in The W.
Paige hasn’t even played two full seasons yet, but she’s already cemented herself as one of the league’s flat-out best players. After a standout rookie season in which she was named an All-Star, earned Second Team All-WNBA honors and Rookie of the Year, Bueckers has leveled up this year. She was the leading vote-getter in the All-Star Game, and will likely earn All-WNBA honors again, as she’s posted a career-best 20.6 points, 5.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting 50.5% from the field, 37.8% from 3, and 87% from the free throw line.
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) scores a two-pointer against the Dallas Wings in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Gabby Williams bolsters Golden State
Like Bueckers, the Golden State Valkyries have only been around for two years in the WNBA. And also like Bueckers, they’ve only really known success. Golden State clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season with a win over Dallas last week, their sixth straight victory.
The team is loaded with talent, including a whopping four former Huskies in leading scorer Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, Kaitlyn Chen and Kiah Stokes.
Williams has continued her ascent in The W after signing with Golden State in the offseason. She earned an All-Star nod for the second straight year and is posting 14.4 points per game. She’s also averaging 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per, and playing her trademark lock-tight defense.
Hayes, Chen and Stokes, meanwhile, have made meaningful contributions off the bench. Hayes is averaging 8.6 points and 2.5 assists in 16.9 minutes per game, while Chen has put up 6.7 points and 2 assists in 14.5 per. Stokes has posted 3.7 points and 5.3 boards in 22 minutes per.
The Valkyries own the league’s second-best record at 25-11, and will likely be playing at home in “Ball-halla” when the postseason begins.
‘Phee’s return
Napheesa Collier hasn’t missed a beat since returning to action in late July after missing nearly seven months with ankle injuries. The 29-year-old perennial MVP contender had surgery on both ankles in the offseason, but you never would have known that as she poured in 24 points in 22 minutes in her return on July 22. She’s been tremendously steady since, averaging 19 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 51.5 percent overall and 47.4 percent from 3. Perhaps most impressively, she’s assimilated flawlessly into the lineup with Minnesota, which had been thriving without her, thanks to Rookie of the Year lock Olivia Miles (20 ppg, 6.2 apg) and Kayla McBride (18.3 ppg), among others. The Lynx have the best record in the league at 31-7, and with a healthy Collier, look like the favorite to win the title.
Stewie chugging along
Breanna Stewart has quietly had another terrific year in The W, averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and shooting 46.8 percent from the field. They’re not quite A’ja Wilson numbers (26 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 52.1% FG), and it looks like the Aces star big is going to cruise to her fourth MVP award in six years.
The Liberty got off to a shaky start, and currently sit in sixth place in the WNBA standings at 23-15. New York has won 10 of 14 games though, and could be gearing up for another deep playoff run, but they may have to go on the road to do it this time.
How other Huskies are faring
Azura Stevens, Chicago Sky: Averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds as a starter with the Sky.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connecticut Sun: Posting 10 points and 5.9 rebounds in 32 games, 22 starts.
Aaliyah Edwards, Connecticut Sun: The third-year forward is out with an ankle injury, but is averaging 9.9 points in 19 minutes per game for the Sun.
Dorka Juhasz, Minnesota Lynx: Also in her third year, Juhasz is posting 3.8 points in 14.7 minutes per.
Katie Lou Samuelson, Seattle Storm: After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, the 29-year-old forward is posting 4.3 points in 15 minutes per game.
Kia Nurse, Toronto Tempo: Back in her native Canada, the 30-year-old guard is putting up 5.4 points in 13 minutes per game for the expansion Tempo.
Stefanie Dolson, Seattle Storm: Averaging 3.3 points in 15.3 minutes per game in her 13th season in the league.
Serah Williams, Portland Fire: Posting 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.7 minutes through 33 games in her rookie season.