DHJ Quick Take: Azzi Fudd\u2019s Status for Thursday<\/p>\n
Fudd Status: Azzi Fudd is officially listed as questionable for Thursday\u2019s game against Minnesota. After being held out of Tuesday\u2019s home opener, she participated in the team walkthrough and shooting drills on Wednesday. The medical staff will make the final determination based on her status following Thursday\u2019s shootaround.<\/p>\n
Bueckers\u2019 Aggressiveness: Jose Fernandez stated he spoke with Paige Bueckers on Wednesday regarding her offensive role. He noted a need for increased aggressiveness in isolation and transition situations as she continues to balance playmaking and scoring.<\/p>\n
Cleaning the Glass: Following the 11 offensive rebounds surrendered to Atlanta, Fernandez identified defensive solidity as a primary focus. He noted that perimeter players will be required to assist the frontcourt on rebounds to prevent second-chance scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n
Bench Rotation: The Wings\u2019 reserves outscored Atlanta\u2019s bench 16-5 on Tuesday. Fernandez cited the depth of the frontcourt\u2014including Maddy Siegrist, Awak Kuier, and Alysha Clark\u2014as a factor that leads to \u201ctough decisions\u201d regarding night-to-night minute distributions.<\/p>\n
Scouting Minnesota: Fernandez highlighted the balance of Cheryl Reeve\u2019s roster, specifically noting the court vision of rookie guard Olivia Miles. The matchup features two teams that evaluated the same top-tier talent during the 2026 draft process.<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 Dallas Wings<\/a> rookie Azzi Fudd is listed as questionable for Thursday night\u2019s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx at College Park Center because of a right knee injury, per the team\u2019s official injury report. <\/p>\n Fudd participated in the Wings\u2019 walkthrough and shot at practice on Wednesday, head coach Jose Fernandez said, after being ruled out of Tuesday\u2019s 77-72 home opener loss to the Atlanta Dream<\/a>. Fudd\u2019s status will depend on how she feels and will be determined by the medical staff.<\/p>\n \u201cShe walked through today, and she shot. So we\u2019ll see how tonight goes and how she gets through shootaround, and then see how she feels and what our medical staff says. So we\u2019ll see,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fudd appeared in the Wings\u2019 season-opening 107-104 road win at Indiana before being held out against Atlanta. She made her first WNBA 3-pointer and finished with 3 points in 18 minutes. Dallas (1-1) used a starting lineup of Odyssey Sims<\/a>, Paige Bueckers<\/a>, Arike Ogunbowale<\/a>, Jessica Shepard<\/a>, and Alanna Smith<\/a> for the second straight game on Tuesday. The Wings led by 9 in the first half and carried a 41-38 advantage into the locker room before being outscored 39-31 across the second half and 19-13 in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n The Wings\u2019 matchup against Minnesota marks the second game of a three-game homestand at College Park Center.<\/p>\n Jose Fernandez Praises Cheryl Reeve, Highlights Minnesota Lynx\u2019s Balance<\/p>\n Fernandez complimented Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and identified guard play as Minnesota\u2019s defining strength to open the season.<\/p>\n \u201cCheryl does a wonderful job. I mean, well-coached. I like their balance,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cMcBride, Courtney, Olivia\u2019s come out of the gate playing really, really well. They always find a way because they know how they wanna play and what she\u2019s done there.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernandez specifically highlighted rookie guard Olivia Miles<\/a>, whom Dallas evaluated extensively during the 2026 WNBA Draft process before ultimately selecting Fudd at No. 1.<\/p>\n \u201cCourt vision, pick and roll. Sees the floor and sprays it all over the place,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dallas Wings Need Better Defense, Shot Selection After Loss to Atlanta Dream<\/p>\n Fernandez tied Tuesday\u2019s breakdowns directly to the areas Dallas must clean up before facing Minnesota. The Wings shot 4-of-26 from 3-point range against Atlanta, were outscored 19-13 in the fourth quarter, and surrendered 11 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points. Atlanta also won the overall rebounding battle 44-34, anchored by Angel Reese<\/a>\u2018s 16-rebound, 8-offensive-rebound performance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have to be solid defensively, which at times yesterday we weren\u2019t, so that\u2019s gonna have to definitely change. And our shot selection\u2019s gotta be a lot better,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n He pointed to ball movement and player movement as continuing emphases against teams that take away transition opportunities and force Dallas into the half-court.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of both because I think any of the really good teams are gonna take away what you wanna do in transition and force you to play in the half-court. I thought ball movement, player movement, the ball going from side to side, inside and out \u2014 at times I thought we just settled,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cLike I said yesterday, you don\u2019t want yesterday\u2019s loss to affect the next game, and our group understands that.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked whether the experience of playing Atlanta would benefit the Wings as the season progresses, Fernandez rejected the framing of the game as a moral victory.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t get into moral victories. The days for that are long gone. They\u2019re probably gonna have three All-Stars in their group, but I think if you take away some of the defensive lapses and understand how every possession matters, it hurt us in that fourth quarter,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Wings entered the fourth quarter with a 59-58 lead before Allisha Gray<\/a> opened the period with back-to-back 3-pointers and Atlanta closed the game on a series of late-clock perimeter shots.<\/p>\n Jose Fernandez Pushes Paige Bueckers to Increase Aggressiveness<\/p>\n Fernandez said he spoke with Bueckers on Wednesday about increasing her aggressiveness on isolations and in transition. Bueckers finished Tuesday\u2019s loss with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes. She also surpassed 200 career assists in 38 career games, the fastest any Wings player has reached the mark.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I talked to her about today. I think she\u2019s gotta be a lot more aggressive, especially on isolations and in transition. Her shot attempts are increasing, but it\u2019s about finding the right balance,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cShe knows. I mean, she\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Jose Fernandez Praises Second Unit, Discusses Bench Rotation Depth<\/p>\n The Wings\u2019 bench outscored Atlanta\u2019s reserves 16-5 on Tuesday, a stretch Fernandez singled out as a bright spot in the loss. Aziaha James<\/a> and Awak Kuier<\/a> each scored 6 points off the bench, while Maddy Siegrist<\/a> and Alysha Clark<\/a> added 2 points apiece.<\/p>\n Asked specifically about Siegrist\u2019s 8-minute outing as Fernandez continues to test lineup combinations, the head coach pointed to the depth across the frontcourt rotation as a factor in the night-to-night decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it also speaks to our depth, right? With Alanna, Jess, Maddy, Awa, AC in that four and five spot. Different things happen during the course of a game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, where those are tough decisions to make,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fernandez also credited the second unit\u2019s stretch against Atlanta\u2019s reserves, particularly in the second quarter, as evidence of the team\u2019s overall makeup.<\/p>\n \u201cMaddy\u2019s been here, she\u2019s a veteran. It just shows the makeup of our team. I thought Awak gave good minutes, but also, you take Shep and Alanna aside, that second group did a really good job against their second group in the second quarter,\u201d Fernandez told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cBut that first group we talked about has to do a much better job on both ends, especially on the defensive end, to close out.\u201d<\/p>\n Dallas Wings Host Minnesota Lynx Thursday on Prime<\/p>\n The Wings host the Lynx on Thursday at College Park Center with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT on Prime. The matchup provides familiarity for Smith and Shepard, both of whom arrived in Dallas this offseason from Minnesota.<\/p>\n Ogunbowale led the Wings with 20 points on Tuesday, her second straight 20-point game to open the season. She has now scored at least 12 points in 10 of her last 11 outings dating to July 22, 2025.<\/p>\n Dallas Wings vs. Atlanta Dream Postgame Interviews: Arike Ogunbowale, Awak Kuier & Jose Fernandez (May 12, 2026)<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas Wings Fall 77-72 To Atlanta Dream In Home Opener As Rebounding And Cold Shooting Sink Comeback Bid<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas Wings\u2019 Azzi Fudd Out vs. Atlanta Dream \u2018Out Of An Abundance Of Caution,\u2019 Jose Fernandez Says<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Championship Standard\u2019: Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream Detail Matchup In Sold-Out Home Opener<\/a><\/p>\n Atlanta Dream Shootaround Interviews: Allisha Gray, Angel Reese Detail Matchup Against Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings<\/a><\/p>\n Azzi Fudd Injury Update: Dallas Wings Rookie Participates In Shootaround Ahead Of Home Opener<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas Wings Shootaround Interviews: Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard Detail Matchup Against Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream In Home Opener<\/a><\/p>\n Jose Fernandez On Azzi Fudd\u2019s Path To Starting Role: \u2018When That Happens, I Think She\u2019ll Be Ready\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas Wings Injury Report: Azzi Fudd Probable For Home Opener vs. Atlanta Dream<\/a><\/p>\n