WNBA Draft Highlights Azzie Fudd’s Historic Move
On Monday night, Azzie Fudd had a joyful reunion with her former University Huskies teammate, Paige Bueckers, after being selected first overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Fudd is set to start her professional career with a record-breaking salary. Following a new collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the players’ union last month, she is expected to earn $500,000 in her rookie season. This is a dramatic jump from the $78,831 paid to the last No. 1 pick in the league.
The significant increase in earnings aligns with the raised salary cap for WNBA teams, which escalated from $1.5 million to $7 million in 2025. For the first time, a player signed a $1 million contract, signaling a shift for the league’s top talents, from seasoned players to fresh draftees.
While Fudd is undoubtedly thrilled about her new paycheck, she also expresses eagerness to contribute to the Wings and the WNBA overall.
“It’s hard to describe what this moment feels like,” Fudd shared after the draft. “I haven’t quite processed it yet. Just sitting there with my family and hearing my name was surreal.”
She also expressed her excitement about teaming up with Bueckers again, commenting, “We all know Paige is a fantastic player and really easy to play with.”
As the draft unfolded, the Minnesota Lynx secured Olivia Miles from TCU, who was Fudd’s main competitor for the top pick. Miles, however, will still earn a solid $466,913 as the second overall choice.
Additionally, Spanish center Our Fam Thiam will join the Seattle Storm with a salary of $436,016 for the upcoming season. National champion Lauren Betts from the Washington Mystics, Gabriel Jacks from the Chicago Sky, and Kiki Rice from Toronto Tempo were also selected within the top six picks.
UCLA made headlines by drafting four players in the first round, breaking a college record previously held by the Huskies since 2002. The Washington team also gained a new player when they picked Angela Dugaric, rounding out their roster alongside Betts.
Another interesting storyline from the draft was LSU guard Fraujai Johnson, selected eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries. Johnson was previously traded from TCU to the Storm, illustrating the active player movement throughout the draft process.
Overall, the draft marked a significant change for player salaries. Every athlete brought into the league for the regular season will earn more than any player did throughout the 2025 season, with a minimum annual salary now set at $270,000—surpassing the maximum of $249,244 from last year.
